serious ambition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "serious ambition" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a strong and determined desire to achieve something significant or important. Example: "Her serious ambition to become a leading scientist drove her to work tirelessly in the lab."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Food

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

But behind the whimsy, there's some serious ambition.

The New York Times - Food

The names involved, and the prices, suggest serious ambition.

The New York Times - Food

That's a declaration of serious ambition that the album lives up to.

The New York Times - Arts

CBS, designed by Eero Saarinen, is one of the last New York skyscrapers of serious ambition.

The New York Times - Arts

This is clear signal of our serious ambition to make our party more representative.

The Guardian

Its happy-clappy working title, United Against Terrorism, belies a serious ambition.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

They're a team with serious ambitions.

The Guardian - Sport

Not that the orchestra lacks serious ambitions.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm thinking of new restaurants with serious ambitions and uncommon culinary partnerships.

The New York Times - Food

England still harbour serious ambitions for him to play a role in the Ashes series.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Oliver has struggled to balance his boyish television personality with his more serious ambitions.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "serious ambition" to convey a sense of dedicated pursuit towards a significant goal. It suggests more than just a wish; it implies a planned and committed effort.

Common error

Avoid using "serious ambition" to describe trivial pursuits. The phrase is best suited for goals that require significant effort and dedication. Using it lightly can diminish its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "serious ambition" functions as a noun phrase, where "serious" modifies the noun "ambition". This construction highlights the intensity and commitment associated with the ambition. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

15%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Food

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "serious ambition" is a commonly used and grammatically correct term to describe a strong and dedicated pursuit of a significant goal. As verified by Ludwig, it implies more than just a wish, suggesting a planned and committed effort. It's frequently found in News & Media, Arts and Sport contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context aligns with the gravity of the ambition being described; reserve it for goals requiring considerable effort. Alternatives include "profound aspiration" or "intense desire", depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profound aspiration

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the ambition.

intense desire

Highlights the strength of the wanting or longing.

strong determination

Focuses on the resolve and firmness in pursuing a goal.

deep commitment

Stresses the dedication and allegiance to an objective.

earnest pursuit

Highlights the sincerity and diligence in striving for something.

significant goal

Emphasizes the importance and impact of the objective.

determined effort

Focuses on the resolute and persistent action taken.

ambitious undertaking

Shifts the focus to the scale and challenge of the endeavor.

resolute intention

Highlights the firmness and unwavering nature of the aim.

purposeful endeavor

Stresses the intentional and goal-oriented nature of the activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "serious ambition" to describe someone's strong desire and dedicated effort to achieve a significant goal. For example: "Her "serious ambition" to become a doctor led her to study tirelessly."

What are some alternatives to "serious ambition"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "profound aspiration", "intense desire", or "strong determination".

Is it better to say "serious ambition" or "strong ambition"?

Both "serious ambition" and "strong ambition" are correct, but "serious ambition" emphasizes the depth of commitment and planning, while "strong ambition" simply indicates a high level of desire.

What distinguishes "serious ambition" from "mere desire"?

"Serious ambition" implies a planned and committed effort towards a goal, while "mere desire" suggests a wish or longing without concrete action or dedication.