achieve

[uh-cheev]

verb (used with object)

achieved, achieving 

1. to bring to a successful end; carry through; accomplish.

   The police crackdown on speeders achieved its purpose.

   Synonyms: reach, realize, execute, effect, complete, consummate

2. to get or attain by effort; gain; obtain.

   to achieve victory.

   Synonyms: win, realize

verb (used without object)

achieved, achieving 

1. to bring about an intended result; accomplish some purpose or effect.

achieve

/ əˈtʃiːv /

verb

1. to bring to a successful conclusion; accomplish; attain

2. to gain as by hard work or effort

   to achieve success

Other Word Forms

• achievable adjective
• achiever noun
• outachieve verb (used with object)
• preachieved adjective
• superachiever noun
• unachievable adjective
• unachieved adjective
• well-achieved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of achieve¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English acheven, from Old French achever “to finish,” from phrase a chef “to (the) head,” i.e., “to conclusion”; chief

Word History and Origins

Origin of achieve¹

C14: from Old French achever to bring to an end, from the phrase a chef to a head, to a conclusion

Synonym Study

See do ¹.

Example Sentences

She hopes through the help of him, the US, other nations in Latin America and "democratic nations of the world", Venezuela will "achieve freedom and democracy."

Read more on BBC

Much like a startup trying to control monthly spending before it can achieve profitability, there are ways to slow your own burn rate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

My comparative advantage is that the things I set myself to achieve as a kid, I achieved, and that built confidence that I could do the next thing I set myself to achieve.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We have achieved real scale, and our current markets are large and growing, supported by attractive tailwinds,” Chief Executive Officer Marcelino Castrillo said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Daimler and Toyota said Thursday that they would consolidate their manufacturing footprint into three sites from five by the end of 2028, in a bid to achieve efficiencies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accomplish 
• attain 
• bring about 
• carry out 
• complete 
• conclude 
• do 
• earn 
• enact 
• end 
• gain 
• manage 
• obtain 
• produce 
• reach 
• realize 
• resolve 
• settle 
• sign 
• solve