"Ambition" vs. "desire": exploring the drive behind our dreams

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 10/10/2024, 15:29

English.me team member

Ambition and desire. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words refer to a strong feeling or drive that motivates a person towards achieving something. They involve a focus on goals or outcomes that a person wants to reach or obtain. Both can also imply a longing or yearning.

What is different?

Ambition often suggests a strong determination to achieve success, status, or a particular goal, and is frequently associated with a forward-thinking and often career-oriented perspective. It implies a level of commitment and planning. Desire, on the other hand, is a broader term that refers to a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. It can be more general and encompass a wide range of wants and needs, both tangible and intangible, without necessarily implying a plan or drive to achieve them.