successful

adjective

suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce successful (audio)
1
: resulting or terminating in success
a successful attempt
2
: gaining or having gained success
a successful investor
successfully adverb
successfulness noun

Examples of successful in a Sentence

the play had a successful run on Broadway sold their successful dry-cleaning business and retired to Hawaii
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Roman said that doesn't often happen, and successful programs carefully vet their messengers. Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 25 July 2025 The components of a successful ethics training program Some topics are drier than others, but ethics may be the toughest subject of them all to make engaging, relevant and accessible. Bruce Weinstein, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 After a successful landing, some passengers cross themselves, others applaud, others close their eyes, grateful. Fabio Morábito, New Yorker, 24 July 2025 The successful matching outcomes tend to align more closely with women's preferences than with men's. Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for successful

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of successful was in 1594

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Cite this Entry

“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successful. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

successful

adjective
suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce successful (audio)
1
: resulting or ending in success
2
: gaining or having gained success
successfully adverb
successfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on successful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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