The Meaning of Prefix AMBI With Examples

The Meaning of Prefix AMBI With Examples

The prefix AMBI and AMB is very common in English. The video provides a clear definition and then 7 illustrated sentence examples so you clearly understand the meaning of prefix AMBI and AMB.

Here is a transcript of the video: “Words With the Prefix AMBI | AMB”

Slide 2:
The prefix AMBI | AMB can mean:

around
about
both

Just a quick reminder:

Slide 3:
Continually IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH
Click the subscribe button
the Bell icon
All

Let’s look at some examples of words with the prefix AMBI and AMB:

Slide 4:
AMBLE

Definition: to walk or move in a slow, relaxed way

Literally: walk around

Slide 5:
The picture shows two penguins walking across the ice in Antarctica.

Sentence example: Two Adelie penguins amble over the snow at Station Y, Horseshoe Island, Antarctica.

Slide 6:
AMBIENT

Definition: surrounding, encircling, relating to immediate surroundings

Literally: all around

Slide 7:
In the picture we see a woman in a relaxed mood sitting in her room.

Sentence example: Ambient temperature vs room temperature:

Ambient temperature refers to the actual temperature as measured by a thermometer (the temperature around), whereas room temperature is based on feeling, the temperature people generally feel comfortable in.

Slide 8:
AMBIVALENT

Definition: having mixed feelings, having opposing feelings at the same time

Literally: both feelings or attitudes

Slide 9:
The picture shows an elderly man sitting on a bench in Krakow, Poland.

Sentence example: He was ambivalent toward his retirement. On the one hand, he enjoyed the freedom from a work routine, but on the other hand he began to wonder how to occupy his days.

In other words, this man had mixed feelings about retiring from his active, working life. He enjoyed the freedom but also faced boredom.

Slide 10:
AMBIDEXTROUS

Definition: able to use left and right hands equally well

Literally: both hands

Slide 11:
In the picture we see a child writing with his left hand and right hand.

Sentence example: At the age of two and a half, Josiah is quite ambidextrous. However, as he gets older he may choose to use one hand more than the other.

Slide 12:
AMBITIOUS

Definition: showing a strong desire for success or achievement

Literally: going around or about (to solicit votes)
from Latin ambitiosus “eager for public office, eager to win favour”

Slide 13:
In the picture we see an advertising poster for the UK TV show, The Apprentice.

Sentence example: In The Apprentice (reality game show), a group of young, ambitious, business people seek to prove themselves in a series challenges set by business magnate, Alan Sugar.

In other words, these young business people all have a strong desire to get to the top, to be the winner, to be successful.

Side 14:
AMBIGUOUS

Definition: not obvious, having more than one meaning

Literally: to dispute about, to go around hesitating, in doubt

Slide 15:
The picture shows a sign for a Barber Shop in the United States which reads:
The Barber Shop
Haircuts $15.00
Pensioners $13.00

Sentence example: This ambiguous sign seems to indicate you can buy a pensioner (elderly, retired person) for $13.

Slide 16:
AMBULANCE

Definition: a vehicle specially equipped to transport the sick or injured to hospital

Literally: mobile or field hospital, to go about, but during the Crimean War (1854) the meaning transferred to a vehicle transporting the wounded from the field

Slide 17:
In the blurred picture we see paramedics taking an injured man from an ambulance into a hospital.

Sentence example: The ambulance reached the hospital just in time to save the man’s life.

Slide 18:
So remember, the prefix AMBI | AMB simply means: AROUND | ABOUT | BOTH
as in:

AMBLE
AMBIENT
AMBIVALENT
AMBIDEXTROUS
AMBITIOUS
AMBIGUOUS
AMBULANCE

Slide 19:
Has this video helped you?
LIKE | SHARE | COMMENT NOW!

Slide 20:
Build A Powerful English Vocabulary
with my FREE course on UDEMY
Go to: http://goodenglish.online

If you are interested in the meaning of the prefix AMBI | AMB, be sure to check this entry in The Prefixes Guide:
The Meaning of Prefix UN

Image Credits

Slide 5 – penguins
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2nHsgEx

Slide 7 – woman sitting in a room
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/2myUuYJ

Slide 9 – Elderly man
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/FQcJBK

Slide 11 – child’s hand
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/ryYi2w

Slide 13 – The Apprentice
Fair Use
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/apprentice-2022-candidates-fired-left/

Slide 15 – ambulance
Creative Commons
https://flic.kr/p/8Eke9K

Regarding the use of illustrations and photographs used in this video:

Creative Commons Attribution Licence
Others are allowed to copy, distribute, display, and perform copyrighted work – and derivative works based upon it if they give credit to the creator or source.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Fair Use
Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use.
https://copyright.gov/fair-use/more-info.html