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
successfulness
noun
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
One of the most consistently successful programs in the country is back in the Final Four for the first time in a quarter century after dismantling Arkansas and Purdue in the West regionals.
—
Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Athletics, who were among the most successful teams with ABS challenges in spring, have been among the lowest usage teams during regular-season play (more on why that bit them in a minute).
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
An effort to reach the building's owner wasn't immediately successful.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott was suddenly fired in January after a relatively successful tenure, and the criticism hasn’t stopped.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
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Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
The Athletics, who were among the most successful teams with ABS challenges in spring, have been among the lowest usage teams during regular-season play (more on why that bit them in a minute).
—Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
An effort to reach the building's owner wasn't immediately successful.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Former Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott was suddenly fired in January after a relatively successful tenure, and the criticism hasn’t stopped.
—Matthew Davis, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for successful
Cite this Entry
“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successful. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
successful
adjective
suc·cess·ful
sək-ˈses-fəl
1
: resulting or ending in success
2
: gaining or having gained success
successfulness
noun
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