achieve
verb (transitive)
UKəˈtʃiːvUSəˈtʃiːv
to successfully complete or bring about a desired objective or result
Example Sentences
He worked diligently to achieve the highest score on the exam.
Team collaboration is essential to achieve long-term success in any project.
You must have persistence and a solid plan to achieve your career ambitions.
To achieve your daily tasks, it helps to prioritize them in order of importance.
The author was honored for her ability to achieve a compelling narrative that resonates with a wide readership.
They set realistic milestones to achieve steady progress throughout the entire initiative.
Driven by a shared vision of sustainability, the international coalition outlined specific strategies and timelines to achieve environmental protection goals, emphasizing the need for clean energy and responsible consumption on a global scale.
Despite facing numerous financial and logistical hurdles, the organization managed to achieve its dream of providing free education to underprivileged children, demonstrating that perseverance and strong community support can overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
To accomplish a desired objective or attain success.“Achieve” is a verb highlighting the completion or realization of goals, ambitions, or tasks. It emphasizes effort, perseverance, and often skill or dedication along the way. While success may differ by context—career milestones, academic pursuits, or personal aspirations—achieving something underlines that tangible progress or a specific target has been reached. For example, you might achieve a long-term dream after years of training, or you could achieve smaller daily goals by chipping away at to-do lists.When using “achieve,” consider specifying the achievement’s nature: Was it academic (like earning a degree), professional (like meeting sales targets), or personal (like losing weight or learning a language)? You might also note the strategies, hard work, or teamwork involved. In both formal and informal contexts, “achieve” can incorporate notions of challenge and reward. It conveys a sense of completion—“She achieved her dream job”—while hinting at the meaningful journey that led to the result. Paired with clear details about the efforts taken, “achieve” showcases the intentional and often strenuous path from start to finish, culminating in the satisfaction of attaining what was sought.
Alternatives
If you need synonyms for “achieve,” your choice depends on whether you’re emphasizing effort, success, or formality. “Accomplish” underscores bringing a task to completion, often highlighting the process of overcoming obstacles. “Attain” can imply reaching a higher level, milestone, or status, often used for more aspirational or long-term goals. “Fulfill” suggests meeting expectations, requirements, or personal desires—common in contexts like fulfilling a promise or potential. In business or professional communication, “reach” can work well when focusing on targets or quotas: “We reached our monthly sales goal.”For a more casual tone, you might say “pull off,” indicating something was successfully done, occasionally against the odds—like “She pulled off the perfect surprise party!” “Manage to” can also convey a sense of accomplishing something challenging, though it often highlights relief at having succeeded. Each synonym has its own color and connotation, whether it’s the formal ring of “attain” or the breezy undertone of “pull off.” By choosing carefully, you can convey exactly how effortless, triumphant, or technically rigorous the success was.
Writing
In writing, use “achieve” to underscore the culmination of deliberate effort, particularly if you want to highlight how challenging it was or how significant the end result is. In a business proposal, you might say, “Our strategy aims to achieve a 20% increase in market share,” which sets a clear, measurable goal. For academic papers, stating, “The experiment aims to achieve robust, replicable findings,” clarifies the desired outcome.Clarity is key—specify what’s being achieved and by whom, and, if relevant, outline the steps taken or resources required. You can strengthen your claim by adding concrete evidence, timelines, or measurable objectives: “By refining the marketing plan and improving customer engagement, we expect to achieve a 15% sales boost in Q4.” Such detail shows you’ve thought through the path to success, not just the end point. When describing historical figures or characters in essays or narratives, “achieve” lends weight to their accomplishments, showcasing the significance of what they worked toward. Whether formal or casual, using “achieve” effectively reveals both the goal and the sense of fulfillment once it’s met.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversations, “achieve” typically means that you got something done or reached a goal, small or large. You might say, “I’m hoping to achieve all my tasks before the weekend,” signaling your plan to finish them successfully. The tone can be light and motivational: “I finally achieved my goal of running 5K without stopping,” suggests excitement and pride in surpassing a personal challenge.Friends may cheer you on or ask, “How did you achieve that?” if they want tips or insights about your process. Whether it’s finishing a puzzle, saving up for a vacation, or trying out a new hobby, using “achieve” underscores that you put in some effort or overcame obstacles. It can also inspire others, showing that success is within reach if they stay determined and organized. In casual contexts, “achieve” retains its sense of completing something meaningful but doesn’t necessarily need the formalities or data that might accompany business or academic goals. It’s a straightforward way to give your day-to-day goals a sense of accomplishment and personal victory.
Etymology
The word “achieve” traces back to Middle English “acheven,” which in turn stems from the Old French “achever,” meaning “to bring to a head or end.” This French term is composed of “a-” (to) and “chief” (head). Historically, it suggested bringing a matter to conclusion, often with an air of triumph or satisfaction. Over centuries, “achieve” evolved to focus on completing tasks or missions successfully, capturing both the end result and the diligent effort required. Today, whether you’re referencing personal achievements or major historical triumphs, the term harks back to its roots of decisively finishing or rounding off a venture with success.
