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

The friends were ambushed in an attack that lasted just 33 seconds, while Snook sat waiting in his parked car with the lights off.

From BBC

“It’s spilled over to the point where I get out of my car today and I’m ambushed by a media outlet here at my house,” Strahan said.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

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

From BBC

To make the ambush even more inexplicable for Tarrell is that his devout mom is in favor of this, too, despite being just as much a victim of La’Ron’s chaos as Tarrell was.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assault
• surround
• trap
• waylay