achievement
Americannoun
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achievements
plural
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something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort, great courage, etc.; a great or heroic deed.
his remarkable achievements in art.
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the act of achieving; attainment or accomplishment.
the achievement of one's object.
- Synonyms:
- realization, fulfillment
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Heraldry. the full display of the armorial bearings of an individual or corporation.
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Digital Technology. a title or icon associated with a user profile or account that indicates the person's skill or rank in an online community, especially on a gaming platform.
noun
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something that has been accomplished, esp by hard work, ability, or heroism
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successful completion; accomplishment
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heraldry a less common word for hatchment
Usage
What does achievement mean? An achievement is a great accomplishment—something achieved with great effort or skill. Achieve and achievement often imply the completion of something important or difficult—a lofty goal or a great feat. Graduating high school is an achievement. Learning a new language is an achievement. An award is an achievement. Achievement can also refer to the act of achieving, as in We need to focus on the achievement of these goals. This sense of the word doesn’t always imply impressiveness by itself—it often means the same thing as completion. Example: Becoming a nurse is a major achievement—it represents years of hard work and sacrifice.
Synonym Usage
Achievement, exploit, feat are terms for a noteworthy act. Achievement connotes final accomplishment of something noteworthy, after much effort and often in spite of obstacles and discouragements: a scientific achievement. Exploit connotes boldness, bravery, and usually ingenuity: the famous exploit of an aviator. Feat connotes the performance of something difficult, generally demanding skill and strength: a feat of horsemanship.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of achievement
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French achevement “conclusion”; equivalent to achieve + -ment
Explanation
Achievement is another word for accomplishment. My greatest achievement to date is the time I won the annual hay-stacking contest at the county fair. That was twenty darn years ago, but I still look back fondly on that moment and the trophy I got to take home. A noun used to describe something finished successfully or the act of accomplishing, achievement comes from the similarly spelled Middle French achievement “a finishing.” For some people, just being able to make it to work every day on time could be considered an achievement, but the word is usually applied to feats of more heroic proportions. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Every great achievement is the victory of a flaming heart.”
Vocabulary lists containing achievement
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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.
See Examples For:
"This achievement marks an unprecedented diplomatic initiative by an American First Lady," her office's statement said Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
Reddy, a former maths teacher, said TT Rockstars had been designed to "boost learning in the classroom: recognising progress, celebrating achievement and making learning enjoyable".
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
As the playoffs begin in high school football, this is really the first time in years that there's no certain No. 1 quarterback in the Southland based on performance and team achievement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
A modest achievement, perhaps, but one I’m growing increasingly fond of.
From Salon ● Nov. 2, 2026
This poor record of achievement has led scholars to speculate that the internal structure of the brains of these Sapiens was probably different from ours.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
He was always an indefatigable self-promoter, but behind the bluster there were lasting cinematic achievements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Doncic has been on a scoring tear for the Lakers, his play at such a high level that even coach JJ Redick has marveled at the guard’s achievements.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Shirley Dace, as she worked the phones at Bass headquarters, referred to a five-page list of personal achievements and positive developments during the mayor’s first term.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Eisenkot also supports a tough approach against foes like Iran, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon—though he says he favors turning military victories into diplomatic achievements.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Washington never revealed Mulligan’s achievements, but some historians say the tailor exposed two plots to kill Washington.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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