ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence ˈam-bē-ən(t)s How to pronounce ambience (audio)
ˈäm-bē-än(t)s
variants or ambiance
: a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing : atmosphere
The restaurant's soft music and candlelight gave it a romantic ambience.

Examples of ambience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Candlelight provides ambience while aromas waft from the adjacent open kitchen. Usa Today Network, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 Ask the builder’s design team for ways to add ambience in every room, whether with the healing warmth of Pantone Peach Fuzz 13-1023 or by transitioning with color from room to room throughout the new house. Cameron Sullivan, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2024 Creating ambience is more important than ever, since entertaining is so much a part of outdoor living. Elaine Markoutsas, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The aroma of nearby meat-processing plants lends a certain ambience. New York Times, 29 Jan. 2024 Finally, look at options for lighting that can increase ambience. Cameron Sullivan, The Mercury News, 25 Jan. 2024 The surrounding towns and villages are repeatedly tapped for their scenery and ambience. Taylor McIntyre, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2024 Timing the sun just right can also create a magical wedding-day ambience. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 This lamp is designed to fill your space with the warm and calming tones of stunning sunset, creating an ambience that calls for calm and relaxation. Priscilla Mak, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ambience.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

in part from ambi(ent) entry 1 + -ence, in part borrowed from French ambiance (from ambiant "ambient" + -ance -ance)

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ambience was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near ambience

Cite this Entry

“Ambience.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ambience. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ambience

noun
am·​bi·​ence
: a feeling or mood that is related to a particular place, person, or thing

More from Merriam-Webster on ambience

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!