3 syllables: am, bi, tions. Stress on bi.
am-BISH-uhnz
/æˈmbɪʃənz/
ambitions is pronounced am-BISH-uhnz (/æˈmbɪʃənz/). It has three syllables (am-bi-tions), with the stress on "bi". Ambitions refers to strong desires or drive to achieve success or specific goals, often accompanied by plans or actions aimed at attaining those goals. It typically denotes a forward-looking, aspirational mindset and the pursuit of advancement in personal, professional, or social realms. The word can imply competitiveness or ambition as a motivating force in behavior.
Ambitions refers to strong desires or drive to achieve success or specific goals, often accompanied by plans or actions aimed at attaining those goals. It typically denotes a forward-looking, aspirational mindset and the pursuit of advancement in personal, professional, or social realms. The word can imply competitiveness or ambition as a motivating force in behavior.
"Her ambitions in the field of medicine are evident from her research and volunteering."
"Despite setbacks, his ambitions never wavered, and he continued to pursue leadership roles."
"The company’s ambitions include expanding into new markets and doubling revenue within five years."
Pronounce it as am- BISH-ənz, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: æmˈbɪʃənz; UK: æmˈbɪʃənz; AU: æmˈbɪʃənz. Start with /æ/ as in cat, then /m/; the stressed /ˈbɪ/ has a short, clipped vowel; end with /ənz/, tip of the tongue near the alveolar ridge for the /n/ and a light /z/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (e.g., əmˈbiːʃənz), mispronouncing the middle vowel as /iː/ or as /ɪ/ in a collapsed syllable, and pronouncing /t/ as a hard /t/ instead of a light alveolar tap. Correct by practicing æm- with a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, ensuring the /ʃ/ is the voiceless postalveolar fricative, and keeping the final /nz/ voiced lightly. Use minimal pairs to tune the /ʃ/ and /n/ + /z/ blend.
In US and UK, the primary stress remains on the second syllable: æmˈbɪʃənz. The /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable is a short lax vowel; rhoticity is not crucial here, but US speakers may slightly color the vowel with a closer quality depending on regional accent. Australian tends to be similar, with vowel quality possibly a more centralized /ɪ/ and a slightly more clipped pronunciation of the final -nz. Overall, the core rhotic and consonant sequence stays consistent.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /bɪʃ/ combined with the unstressed ending /ənz/. The /ʃ/ sound is subtle, and the transition from /b/ to /ʃ/ requires a brief palatal articulation. The unstressed second syllable should be crisp, not reduced to a schwa; and the final /nz/ should be a single voiced alveolar nasal + sibilant blend. Practice by isolating the middle /bɪʃ/ and then linking to /ənz/.
The word’s plural form means you maintain firm secondary stress on the root syllable; the suffix -tions often neutralizes to /ʃənz/ in fluent speech. The tricky part is ensuring the /ʃ/ is clear and not devoiced, while the final /z/ remains voiceless or lightly voiced depending on phonetic context. Keep the mouth ready for a palatal sound after /m/ and before /ənz/.
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Ambition comes from the Latin ambitio(n-), from ambīre ‘to go around’ or ‘to solicit votes,’ from amb- ‘around’ + bibere ‘to drink’ metaphorically suggesting a going around to win favor. In late Latin, ambitio referred to a solicitation for votes or influence, i.e., political ambition. The Old French word ambicion then entered English as ambition by the 14th century, retaining meaning of a strong desire for advancement or achievement. Early senses revolved around grand desires tied to power and status, then generalizing to any strong drive toward success. By the 16th–17th centuries, ambition encompassed personal, professional, and moral aims, evolving with social and economic changes in labor markets. The plural ambitions appeared as the plural form of ambition, though the word often refers to a collective set of goals or an individual’s overall drive. Modern usage emphasizes personal ambition in professional, academic, and entrepreneurial contexts, including positive anticipation of future success and sometimes critique of overzealous pursuit. The word has retained its core sense of forward-looking motivation while broadening to describe various kinds of aims, from career targets to personal growth journeys.
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Words that rhyme with "ambitions"
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