success

noun

suc·cess | \ sək-ˈses

How to pronounce success (audio)

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Definition of success

1a : degree or measure of succeeding

b : favorable or desired outcome also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence

2 : one that succeeds

3 obsolete : outcome, result

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about success

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Examples of success in a Sentence

An enormous popular and critical success, The Liars' Club was credited with (or blamed for) launching a new wave of memoir-writing. (Karr deflects this accusation: "I think memoir started with St. Augustine," she told Salon in 1997.) — Mollie Wilson O'Reilly, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009 Fred tries to keep up his end of the conversation, but without much success; he has never grown bulbs, cooked veal, seen a film by Fassbinder, etc. He feels provincial and out of it … — Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs, 2006 Since I was interested in finding out about the successes as well as the failures disabled women experience in the world, I interviewed women who had some work experience, although it was often part-time work and sometimes interrupted. — Mary Grimley Mason, Working Against Odds, 2004 The necessaries of life for man in this climate may, accurately enough, be distributed under the several heads of Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel; for not till we have secured these are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success. — Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854 Success came easily to him. She is country music's most recent success. The growth of the tourism industry is one of the city's great successes.

Recent Examples on the Web

The volume of screams, shouts, and claps are truly the barometer for success, and have been throughout history — from Beatlemania to the Beyhive. — Natalie Morin, refinery29.com, "From Beatlemania To The Beyhive, Here's What A Stan Looked like In Every Decade," 10 June 2019 In Maricopa County, Lisa Flowers credited the peer-support program for success in her DCS case. — Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic, "The system took these parents' kids away. Now they're helping other parents get theirs back," 9 June 2019 But others thought the video was indicative of a staffer who wasn't given the proper tools for success. — Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, "Alaska Air criticized after video surfaces of worker 'carelessly throwing luggage' off plane," 9 June 2019 City Manager Craig Bessinger said Ferrysburg has applied three years straight without success for funding to the Local Bridge Program. — Kristi Tanner, Freep.com, "FREE PRESS INVESTIGATION Thank heavens: They finally got their bridge fixed; many communities still suffer," 7 June 2019 Enough to persuade the entire cast to return, with the women leveraging the show’s massive success for salary bumps. — Yvonne Villarreal, latimes.com, "‘Big Little Lies’ cast wants Season 2 to encourage women to unite and ‘make mistakes together’," 7 June 2019 What does success for the Tim Bergling Foundation look like for you? — Katie Bain, Billboard, "Avicii's Father on Tim Bergling Foundation: 'We Want Results. We Don't Want To Sit and Talk and Spend Money'," 6 June 2019 Interesting stuff, but the rule came about just before the turn of the century because teams were finding ways to substitute success for sportsmanship, or something like that. — Bob Ford, https://www.inquirer.com, "The tragic, but correct, application for the Phillies of the infield fly rule | Bob Ford," 6 June 2019 Atlanta United's Josef Martinez, who has five goals in his last three games, will be playing in the friendly confines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium for his country after finding so much success there for his club. — Avi Creditor, SI.com, "Mexico vs. Venezuela Live Stream, TV Channel: How to Watch Friendly," 5 June 2019

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

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More Definitions for success

success

noun

English Language Learners Definition of success

: the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame

: the correct or desired result of an attempt

: someone or something that is successful : a person or thing that succeeds

See the full definition for success in the English Language Learners Dictionary

success

noun

suc·cess | \ sək-ˈses

\

Kids Definition of success

1 : satisfactory completion of something But you must, when you are calculating the odds of the mouse's success, factor in his love for the princess.— Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux

2 : the gaining of wealth, respect, or fame

3 : a person or thing that succeeds The show was a success.

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