ambush

[ am-boosh ]

noun

1. an act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise:

   The highwaymen waited in ambush near the road.

2. an act or instance of attacking unexpectedly from a concealed position.
3. the concealed position itself:

   They fired from ambush.

4. those who attack suddenly and unexpectedly from a concealed position.

verb (used with object)

1. to attack from ambush.

ambush

/ ˈæmbʊʃ /

noun

1. the act of waiting in a concealed position in order to launch a surprise attack
2. a surprise attack from such a position
3. the concealed position from which such an attack is launched
4. the person or persons waiting to launch such an attack

verb

1. to lie in wait (for)
2. tr to attack suddenly from a concealed position

Derived Forms

• ˈambusher, noun

Other Words From

• ambush·er noun
• ambush·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambush¹

1250–1300; (v.) Middle English enbuss ( h ) en < Middle French embuschier to place men in ambush, literally, to set in the woods, equivalent to em- im- ¹ + busch- (< Vulgar Latin *busca wood, forest < Germanic *busk- heavy stick) + -ier infinitive suffix; (noun) earlier enbusshe < Middle French embusche, derivative of the v.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambush¹

C14: from Old French embuschier to position in ambush, from em- im- + -buschier, from busche piece of firewood, probably of Germanic origin; see bush ¹

Example Sentences

Among those honoured are PC Fiona Bone and PC Nicola Hughes, who were killed in an ambush responding to a bogus 999 call in September 2012.

From BBC

But what he couldn’t have anticipated was how quickly the Yankees would ambush his de facto No. 1 starter.

From Los Angeles Times

Banks is accused of ordering the murder of Tyquian Bowman, a Georgia rapper called Quando Rondo, whose cousin was killed in a botched ambush near the Beverly Center in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times

But he was killed on his third trip in an ambush by bandits.

From BBC

A politician, Jonas Gahr Støre – the leader of the Labour Party - strolls outside but behind a pillar, a stooge is waiting to ambush him.

From BBC

Related Words

• assault
• surround
• trap
• waylay