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.

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 Word Forms

• unambient adjective
• unambiently 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

April Soto, 26, copes with her white-hot rage at life by chanting “dead inside” while listening to ambient noise through her Beats.

From Los Angeles Times

Atmosphere is everything here: Two of the soon-to-be-released tracks border on ambient, zeroing in on the sounds of church bells and chirping birds and the expansive feeling of mushrooms blooming across a forest floor.

From Los Angeles Times

For some, the cafe is more than just an ambient space; it's a place to feel grounded.

From BBC

It said: "In addition, however, we are concerned that even moderate ambient noise – staff chatter, footsteps, laughter, and bar service activity – will be directly audible within the studio."

From BBC

Investigators believe the cockpit voice recorder - with audio from pilot mics, radio calls and ambient cockpit sounds - holds the key to this puzzle.

From BBC

Related Words

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