What does ambitiousness mean?
Ambitiousness is a noun denoting the quality of being ambitious — that is, having a strong desire to achieve success, gain advancement, or accomplish great things. Where ambition typically refers to a specific goal or aspiration, ambitiousness frames the trait itself: it describes a person's overall disposition toward striving. The word derives from Latin ambitio, which originally described candidates walking about to solicit votes. In modern English, ambitiousness is less frequently used than its root noun ambition, appearing most often in reflective or analytical writing about character, motivation, or leadership. Its connotations are generally favorable, evoking drive, determination, and enterprise, but it can carry a faintly negative edge when applied to ruthless or overreaching behavior. Writers may also use ambitiousness more concretely to describe plans or projects marked by especially high aims.
The quality of being ambitious; a strong desire for success, achievement, power, or advancement.
"The coach praised the young player's ambitiousness, saying it set her apart from her peers."
Less common than 'ambition'; typically used to describe the trait as a characteristic of a person.
An instance of high aspiration or reach, especially in a plan, project, or endeavor.
"Critics admired the film's ambitiousness even where they found the execution uneven."
In this sense the word applies to works or undertakings rather than people.
Ambitiousness comes from Latin ambitio — originally the act of walking around soliciting votes, so an ambitious person was literally 'going around' seeking office.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ambitiousness
Ambitiousness is formed from the adjective ambitious by adding the suffix -ness, a standard English pattern for turning adjectives into abstract nouns. The adjective traces back through Middle English to Old French ambicieux and ultimately to the Latin noun ambitio ('a going around'), which referred to candidates canvassing for votes by walking among the people; the Latin verb ambire means 'to go around'. Over time the term shifted from describing literal canvassing for office to any eager pursuit of honor or preferment, and eventually to the broader modern sense of strong desire for achievement.
Related word forms
How ambitiousness is actually used
Ambitiousness is considerably less common than ambition and tends to appear when writers want to emphasize ambition specifically as a character trait or attribute of a person rather than a particular goal. It carries broadly positive connotations in modern usage, suggesting energy and aspiration, though it can take on a slightly critical tone when describing excessive or self-serving striving. The word is neutral in register and used in both British and American English.
Easily confused with ambitiousness
Ambition is the desire itself, while ambitiousness is the abstract quality of possessing that desire; in practice, ambition far more commonly serves as the noun.