successful

adjective

suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl 

1

: resulting or terminating in success

a successful attempt

2

: gaining or having gained success

a successful investor

successfully

sək-ˈses-fə-lē 

adverb

successfulness noun

Synonyms of successful

• prosperous
• thriving

Examples of successful in a Sentence

the play had a successful run on Broadway

sold their successful dry-cleaning business and retired to Hawaii

Recent Examples on the Web

Rather than scripting the final act of a Shakespearean tragedy that exists only in their imagination, skeptics might try covering the story unfolding in front of them – one of the most successful transformations on Wall Street playing out today. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Haggin developed a successful horse breeding farm on the sprawling expanse and at one time owned as many as 1,000 thoroughbreds. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

The pair are about to find themselves in a complex psychosexual throuple with Jeremy’s wife, Verity (Anne Hathaway), a mega-successful novelist and genuine celebrity. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

From strategy to design, many steps lead up to a campaign launch, and merchandisers often need to rely on other teams for data or assets to ensure a successful rollout. — Zohar Gilad, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for successful

• distressful
• stressful
• unsuccessful

Kids Definition

successful

adjective

suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl 

1

: resulting or ending in success

2

: gaining or having gained success

successfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

successfulness noun