ambient

[ am-bee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. of the surrounding area or environment: The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.

   Your voice mail picked up some ambient noise from airplanes and lawn mowers.

   The temperature in the display case was 20° lower than the ambient temperature.

2. completely surrounding; enveloping:

   Many pollutants are present in ambient air in relatively low concentrations.

3. creating a certain reaction or mood, often a subconscious one, by being wherever people tend to be:

   ambient advertising on a shopping cart.

4. pertaining to or noting sounds that create a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere:

   I stream ambient ocean sounds to help me fall asleep.

5. pertaining to or noting close and constant social contact and communication fostered by the internet or the use of digital devices:

   social media sites that enable ambient intimacy and awareness.

noun

1. ambient music ( def 1 ).

ambient

/ ˈæmbɪənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to the immediate surroundings

   the ambient temperature was 15°C

2. creating a relaxing atmosphere

   ambient music

noun

1. informal.
   ambient music

Other Words From

• un·ambi·ent adjective
• un·ambi·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambient¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin ambient- (stem of ambiēns, present participle of ambīre “to go around”), equivalent to amb- ambi- + -i- “go” + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of ambient¹

C16: from Latin ambiēns going round, from ambīre, from ambi- + īre to go

Example Sentences

This water vapor could come directly from the ambient air, in which case the TCM is an open system.

From Science Daily

Unlike previously reported porous organic crystals, the Janus crystals combine water-collection and water-delivery functions at their surface, creating a highly efficient water harvesting process that maximizes the amount of collected water at ambient conditions.

From Science Daily

That jaunty jazz is sandwiched between two sections that fuse tribal rhythms with ambient synth sounds, making it quickly clear that gamers were in for a wide-ranging musical adventure.

From New York Times

But if there’s a little bit more ambient lighting, colors look washed out, or low in chroma.

From Salon

This material features amines that capture the CO2; next-generation variants are being tested as alternatives to aqueous amines for CO2 capture in pilot-scale plants, and as a way to capture CO2 directly from ambient air.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• atmosphere
• environment
• feeling
• mood
• surroundings
• trend