Vocabulary for Talking about Ambition

Vocabulary for Talking about Ambition

Hello English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. In today’s lesson, we will look at some essential vocabulary for talking about ambition.

1. Achievement
2. Aspiration
3. Determination
4. Drive
5. Goal
6. Motivation
7. Perseverance
8. Success
9. Vision
10. Achieve your goals
11. Climb the ladder
12. Follow your passion
13. Never give up
14. Overcome obstacles
15. Pursue your dreams
16. Reach for the stars
17. Set your sights on
18. Stay focused
19. Strive for excellence

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Achievement

Meaning: refers to the successful completion of a task or goal, usually through effort or perseverance. It signifies reaching a milestone or accomplishing something noteworthy.

• Graduating from college was a significant achievement for her.
• Mr Moore’s greatest achievement was building a successful business from scratch.
• It was a remarkable achievement for such a young athlete.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Aspiration

Meaning: a strong desire to achieve something or to improve yourself. It is the driving force behind our personal, professional or academic goals.

• Jim has high aspirations for his career and is always looking for opportunities to learn and grow.
• Helena aspired to become a doctor, which inspired her to study hard and volunteer at the local hospital.
• Darren aspired to be managing director and worked hard to achieve it.

Determination

Meaning: refers to the motivation in achieving your goal despite obstacles or difficulties.

• Elsa’s determination to succeed in her studies earned her top honours.
• Determination is key to achieving long-term goals and making dreams a reality.
• Simon fought the illness with courage and determination.

Drive

Meaning: a powerful force and determination that takes you in the direction of achieving your goals.

• Jill’s drive to succeed in her career is truly inspiring.
• John has an incredible drive to improve his skills and reach the top of his field.
• With enough drive and determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Goal

Meaning: an aim or desired result that individuals or groups strive to achieve through commitment and planning.

• Fiona’s goal is to run a marathon by the end of the year.
• If we’d all work together, I think we could accomplish our goal.
• The primary goal of our company is to increase customer satisfaction.

Motivation

Meaning: the inner drive that inspires us to pursue our goals and aspirations. It is the force that propels people to take action, stay focused and persist in their efforts to achieve their ambitions.

• Sally’s motivation to become a successful entrepreneur keeps her working late into the night.
• Jack is a very intelligent boy but he lacks motivation.
• The team’s motivation to innovate and excel is driven by their shared vision of success.

Perseverance

Meaning: refers to the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It enables individuals to keep pushing forward, even when they are faced with obstacles or setbacks.

• Mary’s perseverance in the face of adversity helped her achieve her dreams.
• With perseverance, he completed the challenging project ahead of schedule.
• Perseverance is essential for anyone looking to achieve long-term goals.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Success

Meaning: refers to the achievement of an aim or goal. For some, success means reaching a particular milestone, while for others, it could be about personal growth or happiness.

• Gerry’s success in the business world is a result of years of hard work and dedication.
• I’ve always measured my success by the happiness and well-being of my family.
• Success is not just about wealth but also about finding fulfilment in what you do.

Vision

Meaning: refers to the ability to imagine or plan the future wisely. It is often associated with having a clear and inspiring idea of what you want to achieve.

• Ray’s vision for the company’s future includes expanding into international markets.
• He has a vision of a world where renewable energy powers every home.
• A strong vision can inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal.

Achieve your goals

Meaning: to successfully reach or accomplish the objectives you have set for yourself.

• Gabi set clear goals and developed a plan to achieve her goals in her career.
• After long years at college, Will achieved his goal of becoming a doctor.
• Achieving your goals requires persistence, focus and a positive mindset.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Climb the ladder

Meaning: an idiom meaning to advance or make progress, especially in one’s career or social status.

• Stuart worked tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder and eventually became the CEO of the company.
• Born in a small village, he climbed the ladder by learning his trade.
• He started as an intern and climbed the ladder to become a senior manager.

Follow your passion

Meaning: to pursue activities, goals or careers that you are deeply interested in and enthusiastic about.

• Sheila decided to follow her passion for art and enrolled in a prestigious art school.
• He left his corporate job to follow his passion for cooking and opened his own restaurant.
• Following your passion can lead to a more rewarding and meaningful career.

Never give up

Meaning: to persist and continue striving towards your goals despite the challenges or difficulties.

• Despite numerous setbacks, Jess never gave up on her dream of becoming a journalist.
• He faced many obstacles, but his determination to succeed meant he would never give up.
• The coach has always told the team to never give up, no matter how tough the competition gets.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Overcome obstacles

Meaning: to successfully deal with or conquer challenges and difficulties that stand in the way of achieving a goal.

• Judy overcame numerous obstacles to become the first in her family to graduate from college.
• Despite facing financial difficulties, he overcame all obstacles to start his own business.
• If you want to succeed, you have to overcome obstacles.

Pursue your dreams

Meaning: to actively work towards achieving your deepest desires and goals.

• Sandra decided to pursue her dreams of becoming a painter by enrolling in a creative painting course.
• He left his corporate job to pursue his dreams of starting his own business.
• Pursuing your dreams requires dedication, hard work and a willingness to take risks.

Reach for the stars

Meaning: an idiom meaning to aim for the highest and most ambitious goals.

• Kathy always tells her students to reach for the stars and never settle for mediocrity.
• Despite the challenges, he decided to reach for the stars and pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut.
• The company’s mission is to inspire employees to reach for the stars and innovate beyond expectations.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Set your sights on

Meaning: to direct your efforts and energy toward achieving your goal with determination and intention.

• Patrick set his sights on becoming a top lawyer and worked tirelessly to achieve his dream.
• After graduating, he set his sights on starting his own business.
• The football team has set their sights on winning the championship this season.

Stay focused

Meaning: to maintain concentration and attention on a specific goal or task without getting distracted.

• Rob knew he had to stay focused on his studies in order to achieve his dream of becoming an engineer.
• He reminded his team to stay focused on their goals, even when faced with setbacks.
• Staying focused is crucial for anyone looking to climb the ladder in their career.

Strive for excellence

Meaning: to make a continuous and determined effort to achieve the highest standards in whatever you do.

• Jane has always strived for excellence in her academic pursuits, never settling for anything less than her best.
• The company encourages its employees to strive for excellence in all their projects.
• In their quest to strive for excellence, the team regularly reviews and refines their strategies.

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

Answer the questions to exercise using the new vocabulary words and phrases:

• What do you consider your greatest achievement and why?
• How do you stay focused on the goals you set your sights on?
• How do you maintain your drive and motivation over the long term?
• Describe a situation where your perseverance paid off.
• What are your long-term career aspirations?
• Can you share an experience where you refused to give up despite difficulties?
• Can you provide an example of a time when staying focused helped you achieve success?
• What motivates you to perform at your best?
• Describe a major obstacle you overcame in your career.
• How do you stay determined when faced with difficult tasks?
• What is your vision for your future career?
• What does “reaching for the stars” mean to you in your career?
• What advice would you give to someone looking to follow their passion?
• How have you climbed the ladder in your career so far?
• What strategies do you use to achieve your goals?

Vocabulary for talking about ambition

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