overarching ambition

USAGE SUMMARY

"overarching ambition" is a legitimate phrase used in written English.
It typically refers to a general goal or end that one seeks to achieve through a series of smaller actions or steps. For example, "Jenny has an overarching ambition to eventually become a CEO of her own company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Their curse, the authors say, can show up in the form of qualities like hubris, overarching ambition and self-delusion.

The New York Times

She called it "a woozy, morose mixture of visual virtuosity, overarching ambition, and slovenly writing"; complained that "the bloody actions don't build to any narrative purpose"; and wished that Cimino "had just used a little street wisdom and told a story".

The New Yorker

Ms Greening said the "overarching ambition is to leave no community behind" - and to make sure that opportunity is spread more fairly across the country.

BBC

The majority's overarching ambition, though, was idealistic in nature.

Columbia University

This was part of an overarching ambition to blur boundaries between software and hardware.

The New Yorker

His overarching ambition is to train city youngsters in the techniques required to tell stories in the digital age.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

But if you seek political hubris, overarching architectural ambition, millennial folly and evidence of the decline of local authority expertise in one building, this is where you should come.

The Guardian - Arts

The first, highlighted by this revolutionary purchase of a 13% stake in the umbrella City Football Group to China Media Capital (CMC), a Chinese state-backed investment conglomerate, is the overarching global ambition of the Abu Dhabi ownership.

The Guardian - Sport

"Unlike unflinching war movies like 'Saving Private Ryan,' there's no glory in this fight, or overarching moral ambition, or even a clear victory," wrote Katey Rich for VanityFair.com, as the site continued to own the "Apes" beat.

Huffington Post

However, utilising the typology was not done with the ambition of empirically overarching all possible types, but instead it was a heuristic tool, to conceptually approach the empirical data.

Comparative Migration Studies

The A.V. Club named Fringe the 15th best show of 2010, stated that the episode "Peter" gave "the series' overarching storyline a devastating emotional core", making the series a "rare blend of inventive ideas, wild ambition, and unexpected soulfulness".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overarching ambition" to describe a central, unifying goal that guides multiple smaller efforts. For example, "Their overarching ambition is to reduce carbon emissions through various initiatives."

Common error

Don't use "overarching ambition" when describing a simple, singular goal. Overarching implies a broad, encompassing objective that integrates multiple, smaller goals into a larger whole.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overarching ambition" functions as a noun phrase, where "overarching" acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun "ambition". According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used in various contexts to express a comprehensive goal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overarching ambition" is a noun phrase that describes a primary, all-encompassing goal guiding multiple smaller efforts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, academia, and business. It carries a neutral to professional tone and is most suited for formal or strategic discussions. When using this phrase, ensure it reflects a broad, unifying objective rather than a simple, singular aim.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primary goal

Focuses on the main objective rather than the broad scope of ambition.

chief aim

Highlights the principal objective, omitting the sense of wide-ranging effort.

principal aspiration

Emphasizes aspiration as a key component, instead of the comprehensive nature of ambition.

grand design

Implies a detailed plan in addition to a large ambition, focusing on the planning aspect.

sweeping objective

Stresses the broad effect of the objective rather than the ambition itself.

ultimate objective

Concentrates on the final goal, minimizing the process or intent.

central purpose

Highlights the core intention and doesn't capture the aspirational aspect of ambition.

dominant desire

Shifts the focus to a strong wanting rather than a planned endeavor.

prevailing intent

Stresses the intention more than the scope or scale of ambition.

comprehensive vision

Highlights the element of foresight and planning, rather than the ambition itself.

FAQs

How can I use "overarching ambition" in a sentence?

You can use "overarching ambition" to describe a primary, all-encompassing goal that drives multiple smaller actions or initiatives. For example, "The company's overarching ambition is to become the market leader through innovation and customer satisfaction".

What can I say instead of "overarching ambition"?

You can use alternatives like "primary goal", "chief aim", or "principal aspiration" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "overarching ambition" and "great ambition"?

"Overarching ambition" implies a broad, all-encompassing goal that guides various smaller efforts. "Great ambition", on the other hand, simply denotes a high level of desire for achievement without necessarily implying a unifying theme.

Is it appropriate to use "overarching ambition" in formal writing?

Yes, "overarching ambition" is suitable for formal writing, especially when describing strategic objectives in business, academic, or political contexts.