success

noun

suc·cess | \sək-ˈses

Definition of success

1 obsolete : outcome, result

2a : degree or measure of succeeding

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

3 : one that succeeds

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

Though she’s racked up work with Balmain, Marc Jacobs, Yeezy, and of course Victoria’s Secret, Phillips sees her fashion success as more than an opportunity for personal gain. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "This Victoria’s Secret Model Is on a Mission to Create Education Equality," 8 Nov. 2018 Her success came at a cost, however, as unofficial returns showed Kemp expanding the GOP’s advantage across rural and small-town Georgia. ___ Follow Barrow at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP. — Bill Barrow, The Seattle Times, "Ballot count not yet finished in Georgia governor’s race," 7 Nov. 2018 The spooky setting and strong chemistry between the lead actors pretty much ensured its success with viewers and critics alike. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "True Detective seems ready to return to top form in new S3 trailer," 2 Nov. 2018 Companies are also moving past traditional hiring assessments like personality tests (which experts say don’t accurately predict your job success) and are instead using AI, algorithms, and neuroscience games to better match your abilities to a role. — Malaika Jabali, Glamour, "'Hiring Bots' Might Be Responsible For You Getting Your Dream Job—Here’s How to Use Them to Your Advantage," 22 Oct. 2018 The highest point, the Midheaven, is often embedded in your Tenth House and signifies the height of your success. — Aliza Kelly Faragher, Allure, "The 12 Astrological Houses: Interpreting Your Birth Chart Beyond the Zodiac," 6 Oct. 2018 The instinct behind this is noble: America is becoming more diverse and its future success depends on the acceptance of that. — The Economist, "What’s left?To win back power, Democrats must do things that make them uncomfortable," 14 July 2018 Their harmonic voices, and their cumulative success, are no doubt a testament to what a good teacher can accomplish in a career. — Steve Hartman, CBS News, "Former students surprise music teacher who changed their lives," 13 July 2018 Rogers had a 129-84-7 career record as a college coach, but his success didn't translate to the NFL. — Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, "Darryl Rogers funeral: Arrangements set for ex-Detroit Lions, MSU coach," 13 July 2018

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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Dictionary Entries near success

successional speciation

Statistics for success

Last Updated

15 Nov 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for success

The first known use of success was in 1537

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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.