achieve

[ uh-cheev ]

verb (used with object)

, a·chieved, a·chiev·ing.

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)

, a·chieved, a·chiev·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• aˈchiever, noun
• aˈchievable, adjective

Other Words From

• a·chiev·a·ble adjective
• a·chiev·er noun
• out·a·chieve verb (used with object) outachieved outachieving
• pre·a·chieved adjective
• su·per·a·chiev·er noun
• un·a·chiev·a·ble adjective
• un·a·chieved adjective
• well-a·chieved 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

If Putin's description is correct, the missile is at the upper edge of the definition of hypersonic, and few things can achieve this.

From BBC

However, importantly, this could only be achieved if each partner passed on £1.5m of their total assets at death sequentially, rather than in one £3m estate upon the death of the second partner.

From BBC

The method also used lower cumulative drug doses, reducing toxicity while achieving better outcomes.

From Science Daily

These two strategies — delinking and sharing the savings — would achieve the ultimate goal of cutting patients' out-of-pocket costs.

From Salon

"We essentially showed how to achieve the best possible performance for the emitter given realistic, practical design constraints," said Prasad, who is the first author on the study.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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