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The performances I enjoy are the ones that are hard to read or ambiguous or left-of-centre because it makes you look closer and that's what humans are like - quite mysterious creatures, hard to pinpoint.
Emily Blunt

Meaning of "ambiguous" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD AMBIGUOUS

From Latin ambiguus going here and there, uncertain, from ambigere to go around, from ambi- + agere to lead, act.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF AMBIGUOUS

ambiguous  [æmˈbɪɡjʊəs] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF AMBIGUOUS

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Ambiguous is an adjective.
The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

WHAT DOES AMBIGUOUS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

ambiguous

Ambiguity

Ambiguity is an attribute of any concept, idea, statement or claim whose meaning, intention or interpretation cannot be definitively resolved according to a rule or process consisting of a finite number of steps. The concept of ambiguity is generally contrasted with vagueness. In ambiguity, specific and distinct interpretations are permitted, whereas with information that is vague, it is difficult to form any interpretation at the desired level of specificity. Context may play a role in resolving ambiguity. For example, the same piece of information may be ambiguous in one context and unambiguous in another.

Definition of ambiguous in the English dictionary

The definition of ambiguous in the dictionary is having more than one possible interpretation or meaning. Other definition of ambiguous is difficult to understand or classify; obscure.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH AMBIGUOUS


arduous
ˈɑːdjʊəs
conspicuous
kənˈspɪkjʊəs
contiguous
kənˈtɪɡjʊəs
continuous
kənˈtɪnjʊəs
deciduous
dɪˈsɪdjʊəs
discontiguous
ˌdɪskənˈtɪɡjʊəs
discontinuous
ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəs
exiguous
ɪɡˈzɪɡjʊəs
incontiguous
ˌɪnkənˈtɪɡjʊəs
irriguous
ɪˈrɪɡjʊəs
nonambiguous
ˌnɒnæmˈbɪɡjʊəs
noncontiguous
ˌnɒnkənˈtɪɡjʊəs
sensuous
ˈsɛnsjʊəs
strenuous
ˈstrɛnjʊəs
subcontiguous
ˌsʌbkənˈtɪɡjʊəs
sumptuous
ˈsʌmptjʊəs
tenuous
ˈtɛnjʊəs
tumultuous
tjuːˈmʌltjʊəs
unambiguous
ˌʌnæmˈbɪɡjʊəs
voluptuous
vəˈlʌptjʊəs

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE AMBIGUOUS

ambidexterous
ambidextrous
ambidextrously
ambidextrousness
ambience
ambient
ambient music
ambient noise
ambiguities
ambiguity
ambiguously
ambiguousness
ambilateral
ambimoustrous
ambiophony
ambipolar
ambisexual
ambisexuality
ambisonics
ambit

WORDS THAT END LIKE AMBIGUOUS

assiduous
congruous
contemptuous
disingenuous
fatuous
impetuous
incestuous
incongruous
inconspicuous
innocuous
mellifluous
perspicuous
presumptuous
sinuous
superfluous
tempestuous
tortuous
unctuous
vacuous
virtuous

Synonyms and antonyms of ambiguous in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «AMBIGUOUS»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «ambiguous» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of ambiguous

Translation of «ambiguous» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF AMBIGUOUS

Find out the translation of ambiguous to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of ambiguous from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «ambiguous» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

模棱两可的
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

ambiguo
570 millions of speakers

English

ambiguous
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

अस्पष्ट
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

غامضة
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

неоднозначно
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

ambíguo
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

দ্ব্যর্থক
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

ambigu
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Kabur
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

unklar
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

あいまいな
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

애매한
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Ambigu
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

mơ hồ
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

தெளிவற்ற
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

संदिग्ध
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

belirsiz
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

ambiguo
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

niejednoznaczne
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

неоднозначно
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

ambiguu
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

διφορούμενη
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

dubbelsinnige
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

tvetydig
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

tvetydig
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of ambiguous

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «AMBIGUOUS»

The term «ambiguous» is very widely used and occupies the 21.096 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
91
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «ambiguous» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of ambiguous
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «ambiguous».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «AMBIGUOUS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «ambiguous» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «ambiguous» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about ambiguous

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «AMBIGUOUS»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word ambiguous.
1
Clive Barker
It is great good health to believe, as the Hindus do, that there are 33 million gods and goddesses in the world. It is great good health to want to understand one's dreams. It is great good health to desire the ambiguous and paradoxical.
2
Greg Behrendt
I think probably - I think, you know, when you're first dating somebody, if they're just not that physical with you, if they don't want to make concrete plans with you, you know, if they're sort of ambiguous about where everything is going, I think that's a pretty good sign that they're not into you.
3
Bernardo Bertolucci
I left the ending ambiguous, because that is the way life is.
4
Emily Blunt
The performances I enjoy are the ones that are hard to read or ambiguous or left-of-centre because it makes you look closer and that's what humans are like - quite mysterious creatures, hard to pinpoint.
5
Kelsey Chow
I enjoy having the ability to play a variety of ethnicities. Being ethnically ambiguous allows me to explore many roles, and I enjoy being free to be whoever I want to be.
6
Joel Coen
The question is: Where would it get you if something that's a little bit ambiguous in the movie is made clear? It doesn't get you anywhere.
7
Susan Collins
I'm pleased the administration is endorsing the need for legislation dealing with the chemical sector. In the past, the administration's position has been ambiguous.
8
David Cook
I think every good song tells a story, as ambiguous and vague as it may be. And if you know what a song is talking about, it can only help your performance.
9
Francis Crick
The meaning of this observation is unclear, but it raises the unfortunate possibility of ambiguous triplets; that is, triplets which may code more than one amino acid. However one would certainly expect such triplets to be in a minority.
10
Billy Crudup
I always end up taking people that are morally ambiguous.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «AMBIGUOUS»

Discover the use of ambiguous in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to ambiguous and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Race, Nation, Class: Ambiguous Identities
This book attempts to answer these fundamental questions through a remarkable dialogue between the French philosopher Etienne Balibar and the American historian and sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein.
Etienne Balibar, Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein, 1991
2
Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief
--R. R. Cornellius, Choice Reviews of this book: Written for a wide readership, the concepts of ambiguous loss take immediate form through the many provocative examples and stories Boss includes, All readers will find stories with which ...
Pauline BOSS, Pauline Boss, 2009
3
Baba Yaga: The Ambiguous Mother and Witch of the Russian ...
In some tales she tries to harm the protagonist, while in others she is helpful. This book investigates the image and ambiguity of Baba Yaga in detail and considers the meanings she has for East Slavic culture.
Andreas Johns, 2004
4
Ambiguous Memory: The Nazi Past and German National Identity
Explores East and West German responses to their Nazi past and the role of memory in the building of a new national identity in reunified Germany.
Siobhan Kattago, 2001
5
Ambiguous Angels: Gender in the Novels of Galdós
The contradictory nature of the work of Benito P rez Gald s, Spain's greatest modern novelist, is brought to the fore in Catherine Jagoe's innovative and rigorous study.
Catherine Jagoe, 1994
6
Ambiguous Adventure
Sambo Diallo is unable to identify with the soulless material civilization he finds in France, where he is sent to learn the secrets of the white man's power.
Hamidou Kane, 1972
7
Ambiguous Gender in Early Modern Spain and Portugal: ...
Using new inquisitorial sources, this study examines the complexities revolving around transgenderism and the construction of gender identity in the early modern Iberian World and the self-perception of individuals whose behaviour, whether ...
Francois Soyer, 2012
8
Ambiguous Empowerment: The Work Narratives of Women School ...
This work examines the contradictory experiences of power and subjection as experienced by women school superintendants.
Susan E. Chase, 1995
9
The Lexicon of Intentionally Ambiguous Recommendations: ...
How to give a positive-sounding reference to a guy who can't manage his own sock drawer.
Robert J. Thornton, 2003
10
Ambiguous Discourse: Feminist Narratology and British Women ...
This collection of twelve essays is the first book devoted to feminist narratology - the combination of feminist theory with the study of the strictures that underpin all narratives.
Kathy Mezei, 1996

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «AMBIGUOUS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term ambiguous is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Court's ruling reasonable on Obamacare
The high court held that the words “established by the State” in isolation were ambiguous, given surrounding provisions' clear inclusion of the ... «Great Falls Tribune, Jul 15»
2
True Detective Season 2, Episode 4 Sneak Preview: Down Will Come
Tall, ethnically ambiguous, and sporting his hair in a dark ponytail, he vaguely resembles Cary Fukunaga, who directed all eight of True ... «The Bell Jar, Jul 15»
3
Politics ain't broke, so reforms wont fix it
The last several decades of research suggest that money plays a limited and ambiguous role in our politics. Too much money? The current ... «Washington Examiner, Jul 15»
4
UB40's red, red whine
But the question of whether that is right or wrong seems more ambiguous and is a reminder of Australia's own Little River Band case, exposed ... «The West Australian, Jul 15»
5
New Viral Campaign Drops A Teaser For 'A Series Of Unfortunate …
She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the The Daily Punctillo, is Arthur Poe's sister, and meets a rather ambiguous end in the story. Dark, depressing ... «UPROXX, Jul 15»
6
Paul Verhoeven's Authenticity Came to Light at Chicago's Logan …
Though purposefully ambiguous, toying with dream logic in an ironic way, this film feels very authentic. Not authentic in a realistic way, ... «PopMatters, Jul 15»
7
Tree of Codes review – visual wizardry and pizzazz in sexy modern …
... deconstructed text with the disorienting effects of his design, much of McGregor's choreography hovers within a strangely ambiguous space. «The Guardian, Jul 15»
8
Will: Wrinkle in the ACA decision
... read in the context the ACA's structure, was not ambiguous and should not defeat Congress' purpose, to which the court owes deference. «Casper Star-Tribune Online, Jul 15»
9
Tribunal concludes that HMRC's information request was too vague …
The FTT agreed with the Appellant that the request relating to the provision of information was vague and ambiguous. Under paragraph 32(3), ... «Lexology, Jul 15»
10
TV's newest hacker drama "Mr. Robot" is technically sound, morally …
... hacker drama "Mr. Robot" is technically sound, morally ambiguous .... hacker drama "Mr. Robot" is technically sound, morally ambiguous. «Naked Security, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Ambiguous [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/ambiguous>. Apr 2024 ».
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