From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishburning ambition/desire/need etcburning ambition/desire/need etca burning ambition, desire, need etc is very strong My burning ambition is to be world champion. → burning
Examples from the Corpus
burning ambition/desire/need etc• Bruce was a short, stocky man with red hair and a burning ambition.• The second time, it was a passion, a burning desire.• It hadn't been an easy task, and in spite of his burning ambition and will to succeed.• His own unashamed, burning ambition is' to make money.• I just have never had a burning desire to practice law.• You see, she had this burning ambition to succeed on the stage.• But they didn't reckon with her burning ambition to win a third time.• Both books, written out of what had gradually become a burning ambition, were however nothing more than starters. 