Synonyms

achieve

American

[uh-cheev] / əˈtʃiv /

verb (used with object)

achieved, achieving

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

The police crackdown on speeders achieved its purpose.

Synonyms:

reach, realize, execute, effect, complete, consummate
to get or attain by effort; gain; obtain.

to achieve victory.

Synonyms:

win, realize

verb (used without object)

achieved, achieving

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

achieve British

/ əˈtʃiːv /

verb

to bring to a successful conclusion; accomplish; attain
to gain as by hard work or effort

to achieve success

"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

Related Words

See do ¹.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of achieve

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now, Wall Street analysts collectively expect the bank to hit its target of achieving a 10% to 11% return on tangible common equity by the end of 2026, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yorath was twice involved with taking Wales to the brink of qualification for the World Cup finals - a feat that had only previously been achieved once, in 1958.

From BBC

Chen said achieving this looks promising and the company’s main goal for 2026 is to achieve profitability.

From The Wall Street Journal

"It's clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this."

From BBC

They have ground to make up to achieve their minimum aim this season – qualifying for the Champions League, which should be achievable with a top-five finish.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023