success

[suhk-ses]

noun

1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.

2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

   Synonyms: triumph, accomplishment, achievement

3. a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors.

   The play was an instant success.

4. a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc..

   She was a great success on the talk show.

5. Obsolete.,  outcome.

success

/ səkˈsɛs /

noun

1. the favourable outcome of something attempted

2. the attainment of wealth, fame, etc

3. an action, performance, etc, that is characterized by success

4. a person or thing that is successful

5. obsolete,  any outcome

Other Word Forms

• successless adjective
• successlessly adverb
• successlessness noun
• nonsuccess noun
• presuccess noun
• semisuccess adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of success¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin successus, equivalent to succēd-, stem of succēdere succeed + -tus suffix of verb action, with -dt- regularly becoming -ss-

Word History and Origins

Origin of success¹

C16: from Latin successus an outcome, from succēdere to _succeed

Example Sentences

Tactical shortcomings, misguided managers or stellar opponents are among the numerous reasons often cited why England's so-called 'Golden Generation' failed to deliver success on the pitch.

From BBC

Reynolds, who was born and raised in Vancouver, said that Candy’s essential Canadian spirit was crucial to his success as a comic actor.

From Los Angeles Times

Arattai's success will depend on its capacity to not just amass new users but also retain them, he says, which cannot be driven by nationalist sentiment alone.

From BBC

For the last few years, the 62-year-old has been trying to work out how to come to terms with simultaneous extreme success and debilitating grief.

From BBC

It was a period of great success for Draper, who this year alone reached the world's top four and won his first Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplishment 
• achievement 
• advance 
• benefit 
• boom 
• fame 
• gain 
• happiness 
• profit 
• progress 
• prosperity 
• realization 
• triumph 
• victory 
• win