Ambitious

adj.capable, hopefulprofessional

What it means

Strongly motivated to reach a demanding and meaningful goal.

Reach for it when praising high aims backed by effort, not status-seeking alone

The ambitious apprentice mapped the skills she would need to lead a restoration.

everyday
determined
resolve to continue despite difficulty is the quality you admire
not when Determination can serve a modest goal; ambition specifically raises the aim.
warm
aspiring
the person is still working toward a hoped-for future role
not when Once established, someone can remain ambitious but is no longer aspiring to that role.
warm
bold
the size or unconventional nature of the goal deserves attention
not when A bold attempt can be impulsive and need not show sustained ambition.
professional
driven
strong internal motivation and sustained effort dominate the picture
not when Driven can suggest unhealthy pressure when the goal itself deserves attention.
professional
goal-oriented
organized focus on defined outcomes suits a resume
not when The phrase sounds mechanical in a warm card about someone's dreams.
professional
motivated
energy and willingness to work are known, but the scale of the aim is not
not when Motivation alone does not justify calling a plan ambitious.
formal
enterprising
initiative and readiness to create opportunities are visible
not when It leans toward business ingenuity rather than any demanding personal goal.
formal
industrious
steady hard work is the strongest evidence
not when Hard work may support assigned duties without reflecting personal ambition.

ambitious goal
An ambitious goal gave the research team a clear reason to collaborate.
highly ambitious
Her plan is highly ambitious but divided into testable stages.
ambitious student
The ambitious student sought difficult feedback rather than easy praise.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.