What does "achievement" mean?
The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment.
Achievement
/əˈt͡ʃiːv.mənt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment.
- Grammar: achievement is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accomplishment, accomplished fact, accomplishing, accomplishment.
- Useful contrasts: total failure, attempt, attempts.
- Usage evidence: The manager complimented him on his achievement.
How to use "achievement"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "achievement" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "achievement" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "achievement" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "achievement" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "achievement" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accomplishment" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "achievement", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment. countable, uncountable
"The original family who had begun to build a palace to rival Nonesuch had died out before they had put up little more than the gateway, so that the actual structure which had come down to posterity retained the secret magic of a promise rather than the overpowering splendour of a great architectural achievement."
- 2 the action of accomplishing something wordnet
- 3 A great or heroic deed or feat; something accomplished by valor or boldness. countable, uncountable
"[The exploits] of the ancient saints ; they do far surpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes."
- 4 An escutcheon or ensign armorial; a full display or depiction of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a coat of arms is entitled; (now especially) a funeral shield: the hatchment. countable, uncountable
"The narrow Gothic windows were filled, not with glass that admitted the light, but with glass painted with the achievements of the family […]."
- 5 An award for completing a particular task or meeting an objective in a video game. countable, uncountable
"Finishing the game does not give you a 100% score until you have unlocked all of the achievements."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The lexical aspect (aktionsart) of verbs or predicates that change in an instant. countable, uncountable
"[…]distinctions among states of affairs are reflected to a striking degree in distinctions among Aktionsart types. That is, situations are expressed by state verbs or predicates, events by achievement verbs or predicates, and actions by activity verbs or predicates."
- 7 The successful completion of a socially defined goal or task, highlighting individual or group accomplishment. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The manager complimented him on his achievement."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "achievement"?
Common synonyms include: accomplishment, accomplished fact, accomplishing, accomplishment, accomplishments, achieving.
How do you use "achievement" in a sentence?
The manager complimented him on his achievement.
How do you pronounce "achievement"?
Pronounced /əˈt͡ʃiːv.mənt/.
Etymology
From Middle French achevement (compare Modern French achèvement), from Old French achevement, from the verb achever, achiever (“to finish”); equivalent to achieve + -ment. The heraldic sense may be influenced by hatchment.