B1[C]a strong wish to achieve something: [+ to infinitive]His ambition is ultimately to run his own business.He has already achieved his main ambition in life - to become wealthy.political ambitionsShe doubts whether she'll ever be able to fulfil her ambition.I've always had a burning(= very great) ambition to be a film director.After his heart attack, he abandoned his ambition to become prime minister.Goals and purposesB2[U]a strong wish to be successful, powerful, rich, etc.: She's got a lot of ambition.Goals and purposes