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Definition of success
2a : degree or measure of succeedingb : favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
3 : one that succeeds
From the M-W Editors
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 of success from the Web
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This urban success story has made the streetcar less of a necessity to some.
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Auburn story lines: Notching an easy win Like last year's 55-0 mauling of Alabama A&M, Auburn should hope for a resounding success in this game.
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But there’s little reason to think any president could have had much success in doing the latter.
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While convictions in police shootings are rare, victims’ families have had far more success with civil rights lawsuits, which often result in multimillion-dollar settlements.
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The measures of success are different, but the fundamentals are the same.
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Others, regardless of their ethnicity, think Kagame’s success in transforming Rwanda’s society and economy is reason enough to support him.
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The real tragedy in this poll is the demonization of institutions of higher education, which, for any faults, still hold the key to American workers' success in the 21st century economy.
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Of course, this formula doesn’t always work (R.I.P., new Baywatch)—but the odds of success are alluring enough that studios are always willing to take a chance.
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.
Origin and Etymology of success
Latin successus, from succedere —see succeed
SUCCESS Defined for English Language Learners
success
playDefinition of success for English Language Learners
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: the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame
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: the correct or desired result of an attempt
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: someone or something that is successful : a person or thing that succeeds
SUCCESS Defined for Kids
success
playDefinition of success for Students
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.
Headscratcher for success
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. How does that happen? Alphabetical order!
Learn More about success
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See words that rhyme with success Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for success Spanish Central: Translation of success Nglish: Translation of success for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of success for Arabic speakers
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