Ambush Meaning
/ˈæm.bʊʃ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack or kill by surprise.
nounAn attack launched from a concealed position.
Sentence Examples
He lay prostrate, ready to ambush the invaders.
He has a plan to ambush him.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soldiers feared the enemy might ____ them in the narrow mountain pass.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The soldiers were caught in a sudden ____ as they moved through the valley.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English enbuschen, from Old French enbuscier, anbuchier (verb) (whence Middle French embusche (noun)), from Old French en- + Vulgar Latin boscus (“wood”) (whence also bouquet), from Frankish *busk (“bush”), from Proto-Germanic *buskaz (“bush, heavy stick”). Compare ambuscade. The change to am- from earlier forms in en- is unexplained. More at bush.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"the Georgean hills,
Whoſe tops are couered with Tartarian theeues,
That lie in ambuſh, waiting for a pray:"
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii:
"Therefore, why not wait in ambush for Conrad behind the door, and when he entered bring down a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on to his head."
— 1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 17”, in The Secret Adversary:
"And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ranne as soone as he had stretched out his hand: and they entred into the city, and tooke it, and hasted, and set the citie on fire."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 8:19:
"By ambuſh’d men, behind their Temple laid, / VVe have the King of Mexico betray’d."
— 1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 9:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The soldiers feared the enemy might ____ them in the narrow mountain pass.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The soldiers were caught in a sudden ____ as they moved through the valley.