ambush

plural ambushes

1. countableuncountableThe act of concealing oneself and lying in wait to attack or kill by surprise.
2. countableuncountableAn attack launched from a concealed position.

   Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege / Or ambush from the deep.

   1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

3. countableuncountableThe concealed position or state from which a surprise attack is launched.

   the Georgean hills, Whoſe tops are couered with Tartarian theeues, That lie in ambuſh, waiting for a pray:

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene ii

   1 more example

   Therefore, why not wait in ambush for Conrad behind the door, and when he entered bring down a chair, or one of the decrepit pictures, smartly on to his head.

   1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 17”, in The Secret Adversary

4. countableuncountableThe troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise; those who lie in wait.

   And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ranne as soone as he had stretched out his hand: and they entred into the city, and tooke it, and hasted, and set the citie on fire.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 8:19

5. collectivecountableuncountableA group of tigers.

   He outwits a positive ambush of tigers who want to eat him up and take his beautiful new clothes

   1973, Joan E. Cass, Books for the Under Fives, National Book League, page 6

   1 more example

   “Having Chris Palmer part of this ambush of tigers is so exciting. He brings the experience and creative juices, but most of all, the passion and fun we all love about this job,” says Braun.

   2026 July 21, Madison Hahnen, “Chris Palmer Joins Triple Tigers Records/AKANDO Music”, in Music Row

   Synonyms: streak

present singular third person ambushes · participle present ambushing · participle past ambushed · past ambushed

1. obsoletetransitiveTo station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.

   By ambuſh’d men, behind their Temple laid, / VVe have the King of Mexico betray’d.

   1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 9

2. transitiveTo attack by ambush; to waylay.

   The contrast with the start was profound. In the opening 40 minutes Löw’s team had been ambushed here, the world champions run into a state of breathless trauma by a thrillingly vibrant Mexico attack.

   2018 June 17, Barney Ronay, “Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Aug 2019

   Synonyms: jump, ambuscade