accomplish

verb

ac·​com·​plish ə-ˈkäm-plish  -ˈkəm- 

accomplished; accomplishing; accomplishes

transitive verb

1

: to bring about (a result) by effort

have much to accomplish today

2

: to bring to completion : fulfill

accomplish a job

3

: to succeed in reaching (a stage in a progression)

would starve before accomplishing half the distance

—W. H. Hudson †1922

4

archaic

a

: to equip thoroughly

b

: perfect

accomplishable

ə-ˈkäm-pli-shə-bəl 

-ˈkəm-

adjective

accomplisher noun

Synonyms

• achieve
• bring off
• carry off
• carry out
• commit
• compass
• do
• execute
• follow through (with)
• fulfill
• fulfil
• make
• negotiate
• perform
• perpetrate
• prosecute
• pull off
• put through

Choose the Right Synonym for accomplish

perform, execute, discharge, accomplish, achieve, effect, fulfill mean to carry out or into effect.

perform implies action that follows established patterns or procedures or fulfills agreed-upon requirements and often connotes special skill.

performed gymnastics

execute stresses the carrying out of what exists in plan or in intent.

executed the hit-and-run

discharge implies execution and completion of appointed duties or tasks.

discharged his duties

accomplish stresses the successful completion of a process rather than the means of carrying it out.

accomplished everything they set out to do

achieve adds to accomplish the implication of conquered difficulties.

achieve greatness

effect adds to achieve an emphasis on the inherent force in the agent capable of surmounting obstacles.

effected sweeping reforms

fulfill implies a complete realization of ends or possibilities.

fulfilled their ambitions

Examples of accomplish in a Sentence

There are several different ways to accomplish the same task.

Exactly what he thought he would accomplish is unclear.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Senators accomplished their overarching season goal of ending an eight-year playoff drought. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Spieler accomplished this through some creative editing and looping sounds from other parts of the movie when needed. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 1 May 2025

Judith is a guest on every episode of Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast On her podcast Wiser Than Me, the comedian interviews accomplished older women like actress Jane Fonda and fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg. —Julie Tremaine, People.com, 1 May 2025

LeBron has accomplished everything there is to accomplish at the NBA level. —Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acomplicen, accomplisshen, borrowed from Anglo-French acomplis-, stem of acomplir, acumplir, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + complir, cumplir "to complete, fulfill," going back (with conjugation change) to Latin complēre "to fill up, complete" — more at complete entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accomplish

verb

ac·​com·​plish ə-ˈkäm-plish  -ˈkəm- 

: to bring to a successful finish : perform

accomplishable

-ə-bəl 

adjective