success
[suh k-ses]
- the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
- the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
- a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors: The play was an instant success.
- a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.: She was a great success on the talk show.
- Obsolete. outcome.
Show More
Origin of success
1530–40; < Latin successus, equivalent to succēd-, stem of succēdere to succeed + -tus suffix of v. action, with dt > ss
Synonyms
See more synonyms for success on Thesaurus.com2. achievement, fame, triumph.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for successes
Contemporary Examples
While the caution that the fragility of this situation calls for cannot be overstated, neither can the successes made thus far.
We attribute his successes or failures to the presence or lack of some special sauce that he does or does not possess.
On both nights the Kurds counter-attacked and had some successes, destroying at least one ISIS tank.
But the successes of ISIS are drawing in greater commitments now.
We talked about our lives—hopes and fears, loves, successes, setbacks and failures.
Historical Examples
As already seen, we ask for difficulties to conquer, successes to achieve.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
Her successes have varied inversely as the length of her trunk-hose.
Of all his successes, this royal recognition was surely the one which pleased him most.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
With the first successes of the court the work of punishment began.
The Life of Horatio Lord NelsonRobert Southey
I now thought I might boast of my successes to Turkey, but he was not pleased.
Ranald Bannerman's BoyhoodGeorge MacDonald
success
- the favourable outcome of something attempted
- the attainment of wealth, fame, etc
- an action, performance, etc, that is characterized by success
- a person or thing that is successful
- obsolete any outcome
Show More
Word Origin
C16: from Latin successus an outcome, from succēdere to succeed
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
Word Origin and History for successes
success
n.
1530s, "result, outcome," from Latin successus "an advance, succession, happy outcome," from succedere "come after" (see succeed). Meaning "accomplishment of desired end" (good success) first recorded 1580s.
The moral flabbiness born of the bitch-goddess SUCCESS. That -- with the squalid interpretation put on the word success -- is our national disease. [William James to H.G. Wells, Sept. 11, 1906]
Success story is attested from 1925. Among the French phrases used in English late 19c. were succès d'estime "cordial reception given to a literary work out of respect rather than admiration" and succès de scandale "success (especially of a work of art) dependent upon its scandalous character."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper