ambizioso

Ambizioso is an Italian adjective meaning "ambitious," used to describe someone who has a strong desire to achieve success or advance in life, career, or social standing. The term can refer to people, plans, or projects that set high goals and pursue them with determination. In everyday language ambizioso often carries a neutral to positive tone, but it can be used pejoratively when implying excessive, imprudent, or ethically questionable pursuit of goals, for example in phrases like un programma troppo ambizioso or un individuo ambizioso ma poco etico.

Origin and related forms: Ambizioso derives from Latin ambitiosus, meaning "desirous" or "eager," itself linked to the notion of seeking favor or influence. The word entered Italian with the same sense and has parallel forms in other Romance languages (French ambitieux, English ambitious).

Grammar: Ambizioso is an adjective that agrees in gender and number: masculine singular ambizioso; feminine singular ambiziosa; masculine plural ambiziosi; feminine plural ambiziose. The related noun forms include ambizione (ambition) and ambiziosità (the quality of being ambitious).

Common usage: "un obiettivo ambizioso" (an ambitious goal), "una persona ambiziosa" (an ambitious person), "un progetto ambizioso" (an ambitious project).

See also: Ambizione, Ambiziosità. Translation equivalents: English—ambitious; French—ambitieux.