accomplishment

American  

[uh-kom-plish-muhnt] / əˈkɒm plɪʃ mənt /

noun

• accomplishments
  plural

1. an act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment.

   the accomplishment of our desires.

   Synonyms:

   execution, completion

   Antonyms:

   failure

2. something done admirably or creditably.

   Space exploration is a major accomplishment of science.

3. anything accomplished; deed; achievement.

   a career measured in a series of small accomplishments.

   Synonyms:

   consummation

4. Often accomplishments.

   1. a grace, skill, or knowledge expected in polite society.

   2. any acquired ability or knowledge.

   Synonyms:

   proficiency, acquisition

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accomplishment British  

/ əˈkɒmplɪʃmənt, əˈkʌm- /

noun

1. the act of carrying out or achieving

2. something achieved or successfully completed

3. (often plural) skill or talent

4. (often plural) social grace, style, and poise

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Usage

What does accomplishment mean? An accomplishment is something that has been accomplished—achieved, carried out, or finished. To accomplish a goal is to complete it. The word achievement means about the same thing. Accomplish and achieve can be used as synonyms, but they sometimes imply slightly different things. Achieve and achievement often imply the completion of something important or difficult—a lofty goal or a great feat. You can accomplish a lofty goal or a great feat, but the word accomplish itself doesn’t typically imply this. Rather, it usually just means to complete something (regardless of how impressive it is). However, this sense of accomplishment is usually used in the context of the completion of actions or goals that are at least somewhat impressive—or that take a good amount of effort. Graduating high school is an accomplishment. Learning a new language is an accomplishment. Accomplishment can also refer to the act of accomplishing, as in We need to focus on the accomplishment of these goals. This sense of the word doesn’t typically imply impressiveness by itself—it means the same thing as completion. Example: Make sure you list all your major accomplishments on your resume.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preaccomplishment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accomplishments
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of accomplishment

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; accomplish + -ment; compare French accomplissement

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Explanation

An accomplishment is something notable that you've done. Graduating from college with honors is an accomplishment. First used in the 15th century, the noun accomplishment derives from the Old French word acomplir, meaning "to fulfill, fill up, complete." An accomplishment is something you've completed successfully. The word often refers to a goal that you've achieved. If you're a runner, you'd consider completing a marathon to be a great accomplishment. Gaining a new skill can also be an accomplishment. Speaking French fluently might be an accomplishment that makes you really proud.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accomplishment accomplishments

Perhaps its greatest accomplishment, though, was keeping its cool factor even as it grew.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

For someone to come from where she came from and to do what she did with her life in a very short 80 years — it’s an extraordinary accomplishment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

SpaceX has successfully put its Starship megarocket into orbit for the very first time, a major accomplishment for the company.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026

Graves told ProPublica that he had high regard for Bunch — “his accomplishment with the African American museum was remarkable” — but that he became worried that the Smithsonian was operating within a bubble.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

His discoveries with the telescope would by themselves have ensured his place in the history of human accomplishment.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

During her debut at the White House podium on Tuesday, Zacharia spoke in a stilted cadence while reading out a list of Trump’s accomplishments and discussing her excitement for the job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Lew highlighted Ann Mannix’s accomplishments within the department, where she worked for more than three decades, rose to the rank of deputy chief and was the first woman to lead the department’s tactical company.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

They can’t point to any genuinely positive accomplishments.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2026

At this year's 9th Party Congress of the Korean Workers' Party, Kim Jong Un was emboldened and spoke of accomplishments that his grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il never achieved.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

I’d exhaustively studied his life, accomplishments, and interests.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

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Related Words

• ability
• achievement
• capability
• deed
• effort
• exploit
• feat
• performance
• skill
• talent
• triumph

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