Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Ambition has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:
a strong drive for success
"Her ambition drove her to work late every night until she finally became CEO of the company."
Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or literary fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.
"His relentless ambition drove him to seek the highest office not out of public service, but purely to stand above his peers."
In plain English: Ambition is your strong desire to achieve something important and make yourself proud.
"Her ambition was to become a doctor when she grew up."
Usage: Ambition is often confused with the more neutral "aspiration," but it carries a negative connotation of excessive or inordinate desire for power and distinction. Use this term when emphasizing an intense, potentially ruthless drive rather than a simple goal.
have as one's ambition
"She has always had it as her ambition to become a renowned surgeon."
To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet.
"She was ambitious enough to pursue every opportunity that would advance her career."
In plain English: To aim for something you want to achieve is to have ambition, but since that word describes a feeling rather than an action, it does not function as a verb in English.
"His ambition to become an astronaut drove him to study hard for years."
The word "ambition" comes from the Latin ambiō, which originally meant to go around or solicit votes during Roman elections. It entered English through Old French and Middle English while retaining its core sense of striving for favor or office.