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

Even as the White House’s proposal remains in flux, the notion of extending any part of President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement is likely to rankle conservatives who have sought to repeal and replace the law for well over a decade. —Seung Min Kim, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

For Legend, the achievement represents multiple firsts in the Gospel space. —Russ Penuell, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2025

China's latest technological achievement follows the Chinese Academy of Sciences' confirmation earlier in November that its experimental thorium molten salt reactor (TMSR) in the Gobi Desert had successfully converted thorium into uranium fuel. —Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

The scientists believe the achievement could lead to ultra-sharp screens, advanced microscopes and new wave-optics applications enabled by the extremely small pixel size. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 24 Nov. 2025

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