achieve

Forms

present (v1): achieve
past (v2): achieved
past participle (v3): achieved
present participle: achieving
3rd person singular: achieves

Definitions

1.To succeed in something, now especially in academic performance.
- What does Tom want to achieve?
2.To carry out successfully; to accomplish.
- You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
- Hannah achieved her lifelong dream of winning a medal at the Olympics.
- Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be achieved in any line by the aid of a capital, invigorating motive than without it.
3.To obtain, or gain (a desired result, objective etc.), as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.
- Some are born great, some achieve greatness.
- Bradford may have lost on the night but they stubbornly protected a 3-1 first-leg advantage to emulate a feat last achieved by Rochdale in 1962.
4.To obtain (a material thing).
- Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved.

Frequency

Overall

Common· #1280

By learning goal

Everyday conversation: Rare
General reading & writing: Common
Academic: Uncommon
Literature: Rare

Related words

Synonyms

Word family

achievement

Etymology

From Middle English achieven, acheven, from Anglo-Norman achever, Old French achever, achiever et al., apparently from Late Latin *accapāre, from ad (“to”) + caput (“head”) + -ō (verbal suffix), or alternatively a construction based on Old French chief (“head”).