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

But one accolade missing from their long list of achievements is Olympic ice dance gold, having finished just off the podium in fourth in Beijing. —Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

But the research underscores how school matters across achievement levels — and each day makes a difference. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

Research shows that most state takeovers happening in the past three decades haven’t successfully improved student achievement, especially for Black students. —Bri Hatch, Chalkbeat, 26 Jan. 2026

Finnemore earned the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s lifetime achievement honor in 2020. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 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