achievement

noun achieve·ment \ ə-ˈchēv-mənt \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: achievement in a Sentence

Definition of achievement

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

See achievement defined for English-language learners

See achievement defined for kids

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 of achievement from the Web

That's one small achievement for the world, but one giant leap for Israel.

— israel kasnett, Jewish Journal, "Israel gets set to land spacecraft on the moon," 11 July 2018
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement according to its website.

— emily bloch, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Plantation Girl Scout honored with Gold Award," 6 July 2018
If another president were polling at 42 percent amid 3.8 percent unemployment, no one in Washington would even consider covering that as a political achievement.

— ezra klein, Vox, "The messy reality of Donald Trump’s poll numbers," 5 July 2018
Arena stages are a rewarding achievement for the guitarist who once was a member of the jazz band at Dublin Coffman High School (not to mention Buckeye rock band Lionel the Jailbird).

— david lindquist, Indianapolis Star, "5 ways Harry Styles charted his own course in Indianapolis," 28 June 2018
He's spent over 30 years fighting for equality and inclusion in education— an achievement that won him the Charlotte Post Foundation's 2018 Luminary Award on Thursday.

— hannah lang, charlotteobserver, "He went to a segregated high school. For decades, he's fought for education equality.," 22 June 2018
To the president the summit was a historic achievement moving the world away from nuclear war.

— NBC News, "Meet the Press - June 17, 2018," 17 June 2018
This won’t stop Trump from repeatedly trying to hawk the summit as a great achievement in world peace.

— frank rich, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Summit Spectacle Was Just a Momentary Distraction From His Bigger Problems," 13 June 2018
That would be a significant achievement after the first three flights had six-month gaps between them.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "Rocket Report: SpaceShipTwo soars, BFR engine advances, a self-eating booster," 1 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'achievement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of achievement

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

achievement Synonyms

Phrases

a feather in one's cap;

Synonym Discussion of 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

ACHIEVEMENT Defined for English Language Learners

achievement

noun

Definition of achievement for English Language Learners

: something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work
: the act of achieving something : the state or condition of having achieved or accomplished something