ambitious about

USAGE SUMMARY

'ambitious about' is a perfectly valid phrase to use in written English.
It means to be full of ambition or vigor regarding a particular subject, event, or action. For example, "Michael is very ambitious about his new business venture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Young people are so beautifully ambitious about marriage these days.

The New York Times

"He was too ambitious about his life and his studies.

The Guardian

And he's no less ambitious about forthcoming work.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

What remains constant is ambition, and the search for new things to be ambitious about.

The New Yorker

Mr Cameron said the country needed to be "more ambitious" about improvements to its road network.

Independent

"New York should be uniquely ambitious about a public market," he said.

The New York Times - Food

Daniel Radcliffe is perhaps more ambitious about a post-Potter career.

The Guardian - Film

It's now conventional wisdom among Obama's liberal critics that the White House has been insufficiently ambitious about deficit spending.

The New York Times

But some people are already accusing it of excessive secrecy and being too ambitious about the changes it proposes.

The Economist

Abigail Breslin's 9-year-old aspiring journalist in "Kit Kittredge" is intelligent and ambitious about something other than socializing.

The New York Times

Some companies are being overly ambitious about pricing, as their stocks quickly give up their first-day gains.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person's overall character, consider using "ambitious" on its own. Use "ambitious about" when linking ambition to a particular goal or area of focus.

Common error

Avoid using "ambitious about" without providing concrete examples or details. Simply stating someone is "ambitious about success" lacks impact unless you specify what actions they are taking to achieve it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ambitious about" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition. According to Ludwig, it describes someone who has a strong desire to achieve or accomplish something specific. It is often used to highlight a person's drive and determination in relation to a particular goal.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ambitious about" is a versatile phrase used to describe a strong desire to achieve specific goals, as highlighted by the numerous examples found on Ludwig. It functions as an adjective phrase + preposition and has a neutral tone suitable for various contexts, according to Ludwig AI. Common alternatives include "eager for", "passionate about", and "determined to". When using this phrase, clearly define the ambition's target to avoid vagueness and ensure your writing resonates with clarity and purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

eager for

Focuses on enthusiasm and anticipation towards something.

passionate about

Suggests a deep emotional connection and commitment.

enthusiastic about

Highlights the excitement and passion associated with a goal.

driven to

Implies a strong internal force pushing towards an objective.

determined to

Stresses resolve and firmness in pursuing a goal.

keen on

Emphasizes interest and willingness.

aspiring to

Suggests the dream of something.

intent on

Highlights the decision and desire to do something.

focused on

Highlights concentration and dedication towards a specific aim.

goal-oriented towards

Formally denotes someone that concentrates efforts to achieve the project goals.

FAQs

How do I use "ambitious about" in a sentence?

You can use "ambitious about" to describe someone's strong desire to achieve a specific goal. For example, "She is "ambitious about" her career" or "The company is "ambitious about" expanding into new markets".

What are some alternatives to "ambitious about"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "eager for", "passionate about", or "determined to" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "ambitious about" or simply "ambitious"?

While "ambitious" can stand alone to describe a generally driven person, "ambitious about" is best used when specifying the area or goal someone is directing their ambition towards. For example, "He is an ambitious person" versus "He is "ambitious about" launching his own startup".

How does "ambitious about" differ from "aspiring to"?

"Ambitious about" emphasizes the active pursuit and strong desire for a goal, while "aspiring to" focuses more on the hope or dream of achieving something, often without the same level of concrete action.