noun

1. Eager or inordinate desire for some object that confers distinction, as preferment, honor, superiority, political power, or literary fame; desire to distinguish one's self from other people.

   "My son, John, wants to be a firefighter very much. He has a lot of ambition."

2. An object of an ardent desire.

   "My ambition is to own a helicopter."

3. A desire, as in (sense 1), for another person to achieve these things.

4. A personal quality similar to motivation, not necessarily tied to a single goal.

5. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any other object of desire; canvassing.