ambition

ambition
am‧bi‧tion W3 /æmˈbɪʃən/ noun1. [countable] a strong desire to achieve something
    an ambition to do something
    She had always had an ambition to be a pilot.
    sb’s ambitions of doing something
    An injury ended his ambitions of becoming a professional footballer.
2. [uncountable] determination to be successful, rich, powerful etc:
    He was young and full of ambition.
3. have no ambition to do something used when saying that you definitely do not want to do something:
    I have no ambition to go back there again.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meanings 1 & 2)

■ verbs
   ▪ sb’s ambition is to be/do something My ambition was to be a journalist.
   ▪ have an ambition He had an ambition to be a top cello player.
   ▪ achieve/fulfil/realize your ambition (=do what you wanted to do) It took her ten years to achieve her ambition. | He was prepared to go to any lengths to fulfil his ambition. | I want to thank all those who made it possible for me to realize a lifetime 's ambition.
   ▪ lack ambition/have no ambition Many of the students lack ambition.
   ▪ nurse/harbour/cherish an ambition (=have it for a long time, especially secretly) He had nursed an ambition to become a writer for many years.
   ▪ frustrate/thwart sb’s ambitions formal (=prevent someone from achieving them) The weather threatened to frustrate their ambitions. | Her lifelong ambitions had been thwarted again and again.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ambition
   ▪ sb’s main ambition What’s your main ambition in life?
   ▪ sb’s great ambition He didn’t achieve his greatest ambition – to be Wimbledon Champion.
   ▪ a lifelong/long-held ambition (=one that you have had all your life) It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.
   ▪ a personal ambition Crossing the Sahara was a personal ambition of mine.
   ▪ a secret ambition His secret ambition was to become a pilot.
   ▪ a burning/driving ambition (=a very strong ambition) She had a burning ambition to become a racing car driver.
   ▪ career ambitions The course is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.
   ▪ political/presidential ambitions His political ambitions were put on hold while he waited for a suitable opportunity.
■ phrases
   ▪ sb’s dreams and ambitions He told her all about his dreams and ambitions.
   ▪ sb’s lack of ambition I was frustrated by their apparent lack of ambition.
   ▪ be full of ambition She was full of ambition when she joined the company.