(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : existing or present on all sides :
encompassing the ambient air temperature ambient light ambient sound
2 : of or relating to ambient music (see
ambient entry 2 sense 2)
ambient
noun
Definition of ambient (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : an encompassing atmosphere :
environment
2 : music intended to serve as an unobtrusive accompaniment to other activities (as in a public place) and characterized especially by
quiet and repetitive instrumental melodies
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Synonyms for ambient
Synonyms: Noun
atmosphere, climate, clime, context, environment, environs, medium, milieu, setting, surround, surroundings, terrain
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Did You Know?
Adjective
Biologists explore the effects of ambient light on plants; acoustics experts try to control ambient sound; and meteorologists study
ambient pressure, air, or temperature. All this can make ambient seem like a technical term, but when it first saw light of day, that
all-encompassing adjective was as likely to be used in poetry as in science. John Milton used it in Paradise Lost, and Alexander
Pope wrote of a mountain "whose tow'ring summit ambient clouds conceal'd." Both poets and scientists who use ambient owe a debt
to the Latin verb ambire, meaning "to go around," the grandparent of our English word.
Examples of ambient in a Sentence
Adjective
Keep the chemicals at an ambient temperature of 70°F. the bright ambient light of the room
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Both computers feature Retina displays with True Tone technology that is supposed to properly match colors to ambient lighting
conditions. —
Edward C. Baig, USA TODAY, "Apple boosts oomph in priciest MacBook Pros," 12 July 2018 But nothing like that
dark night sky, away from ambient city light, to make those fireworks spectacles pop. —
Chicago Tribune, chicagotribune.com,
"Where to go for Fourth fireworks," 29 June 2018
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ambient.'
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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First Known Use of ambient
Ambient | Definition of Ambient by Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambien
2 of 9 11/13/2018, 10:07 AM