ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence ˈam-bē-ən(t)s 

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.

Synonyms of ambience

• aura
• atmosphere
• smell
• aroma
• air

Examples of ambience in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The overhead lights were off, for ambience, but midafternoon daylight streamed through the windows. —Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

The Living Room Coffeehouse is a popular hub for students because of the warm, cozy ambience and the delicious drinks. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

Visit Hindu Temples Bali's transcendent charm is rooted in its tens of thousands of Hindu temples, and there are many worth visiting for a dose of impressively ornate architecture and mystical ambience. —Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026

With refined decor and an intimate residential ambience, guests will feel like locals checking into an elegant Manhattan townhouse—without sacrificing the white-glove service and amenities of a five-star hotel, of course. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for ambience

• ambiance

Kids Definition

ambience

noun

am·​bi·​ence

variants or ambiance

ˈam-bē-ən(t)s  ˈäm-bē-än(t)s 

: a feeling or mood that is related to a particular place, person, or thing