achievement

noun

achieve·​ment ə-ˈchēv-mənt 

1

: the act of achieving something

the achievement of an ambition

2

a

: a result gained by effort : accomplishment

being honored for her academic achievements

a major scientific achievement

b

: a great or heroic deed

3

: the quality and quantity of a student's work

standardized tests to measure achievement

Synonyms of achievement

• success
• accomplishment

Choose the Right Synonym for achievement

feat, exploit, achievement mean a remarkable deed.

feat implies strength or dexterity or daring.

an acrobatic feat

exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act.

his exploits as a spy

achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition.

her achievements as a chemist

Examples of achievement in a Sentence

The discovery of DNA was a major scientific achievement.

It was a great achievement.

Getting the project done on time was a real achievement.

Recent Examples on the Web

He was recognized with a Dayton Literary Peace Prize lifetime achievement award in November. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

Opponents, like Europe’s UEFA, counter that the World Cup’s prestige has long rested on qualification being one of the hardest achievements in sports. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Caribenya’s magic, and Pimienta’s real achievement, is a record that beautifully slips through your fingers. — Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

The new deal represents a huge achievement in the adoption of advanced battery technology for military submarines. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French achevement, from achever "to achieve" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing achievement

• sense of achievement

Rhymes for achievement

• bereavement
• underachievement

Kids Definition

achievement

noun

achieve·​ment ə-ˈchēv-mənt 

1

: the act of achieving

2

: something achieved