successful

[ suh k-ses-fuh l ]

/ səkˈsɛs fəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR successful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

achieving or having achieved success.

having attained wealth, position, honors, or the like.

resulting in or attended with success.

Nearby words

Origin of successful

First recorded in 1580–90; success + -ful

Related forms

suc·cess·ful·ly, adverbsuc·cess·ful·ness, nounhalf-suc·cess·ful, adjectivehalf-suc·cess·ful·ly, adverb

half-suc·cess·ful·ness, nounnon·suc·cess·ful, adjectivenon·suc·cess·ful·ly, adverbpre·suc·cess·ful, adjectivepre·suc·cess·ful·ly, adverbqua·si-suc·cess·ful, adjectivequa·si-suc·cess·ful·ly, adverbsem·i·suc·cess·ful, adjectivesem·i·suc·cess·ful·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for successful

Malaysian-based entrepreneur Tony Fernandes has turned AirAsia into the most successful low cost airline in southeast Asia.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Beyoncé has, for close to a decade now, been a deity in entertainment: untouchable, successful, divine.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect Year|Kevin Fallon|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Just how many fake nodes would be needed in order to pull off a successful Sybil attack against Tor is not known.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet|Marc Rogers|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A successful trend-maker might be able to steer a conversation, but virality remains extremely difficult to predict.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After a successful summer working alongside R, he officially offered her the reigns of La Domaine.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Well, I should have said that his most successful methods were invented by the devil!
For Gold or Soul?|Lurana W. Sheldon
"Not altogether a successful party," mused Daphne, as a taxi-cab conveyed her to Hurlingham.
A Safety Match|Ian Hay
She looked round with the triumphant smile of a successful unraveller of mystery.
The Toys of Peace|Saki
To Hildebrand she says that if her scheme had been successful "at my exalted name posterity would bow."
The Secrets of a Savoyard|Henry A. Lytton
The play brought to a successful end, I realised that for one day no letters had come from Hildreth.
Tramping on Life|Harry Kemp

British Dictionary definitions for successful

successful

/ (səkˈsɛsfʊl) /

adjective

having succeeded in one's endeavours

marked by a favourable outcome

having obtained fame, wealth, etc

Derived Formssuccessfully, adverbsuccessfulness, noun

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 successful

successful

adj.

1580s, from success + -ful. Originally any kind of success; since late 19c. it has tended to mean "wealthy" unless otherwise indicated. Related: Successfully.

successful

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of successful

Examples from the Web for successful

successful

adjective

successful