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accomplishment

[ uh-kom-plish-muhnt ]
/ əˈkɒm plɪʃ mənt /
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See synonyms for: accomplishment / accomplishments on Thesaurus.com

noun
an act or instance of carrying into effect; fulfillment: the accomplishment of our desires.
something done admirably or creditably: Space exploration is a major accomplishment of science.
anything accomplished; deed; achievement: a career measured in a series of small accomplishments.
Often accomplishments.
  1. a grace, skill, or knowledge expected in polite society.
  2. any acquired ability or knowledge.
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Origin of accomplishment

1425–75; late Middle English; see accomplish, -ment. Compare French accomplissement

OTHER WORDS FROM accomplishment

pre·ac·com·plish·ment, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT ACCOMPLISHMENT

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.

Where does accomplishment come from?

The first records of the word accomplishment come from the 1400s. It comes from the Old French acomplir, meaning “to complete,” ultimately from the Latin complēre, which means to “to fill up” and is also the basis of the word complete. The suffix -ment is used to form nouns.

Accomplishment is often (though not always) used in the context of completing a set goal—one that is planned or desired before it is accomplished. Accomplishment is generally used in a positive way in the context of completing beneficial goals (though an accomplishment can involve bad things—taking over the world might be an accomplishment for a supervillain).

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to accomplishment?

What are some synonyms for accomplishment?

What are some words that share a root or word element with accomplishment

 

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing accomplishment?

 

 

How is accomplishment used in real life?

Accomplishment is very commonly used. It’s usually used in a positive way.

Try using accomplishment!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of accomplishment?

A. achievement

B. completion

C. failure

D. attainment

How to use accomplishment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for accomplishment

accomplishment
/ (əˈkɒmplɪʃmənt, əˈkʌm-) /

noun
the act of carrying out or achieving
something achieved or successfully completed
(often plural) skill or talent
(often plural) social grace, style, and poise
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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