accomplish

verb

ac·​com·​plish ə-ˈkäm-plish How to pronounce accomplish (audio) -ˈkəm- How to pronounce accomplish (audio)
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 distanceW. H. Hudson †1922
4
archaic
a
: to equip thoroughly
b
accomplishable adjective
accomplisher noun
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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In order to accomplish that, the Bears have to hit in the draft and slowly become less of a player in free agency and other means of acquiring front-line talent, including big trades. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 Lucca Comic and Games has over almost 60 years accomplished a fantastic butterfly effect, artistic director Emanuele Vietina tells Variety. John Bleasdale, Variety, 28 Oct. 2024 The message, at least inside the concert that happened to have a political PSA sprinkled in it, seemed to have accomplished its surface-level mission. Philip Elliott / Houston, TIME, 26 Oct. 2024 Those removals were accomplished through many means, including sending in soldiers to communities to forcibly take children. Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for accomplish 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accomplish was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near accomplish

Cite this Entry

“Accomplish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accomplish. Accessed 9 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

accomplish

verb
ac·​com·​plish ə-ˈkäm-plish How to pronounce accomplish (audio) -ˈkəm- How to pronounce accomplish (audio)
: to bring to a successful finish : perform
accomplishable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on accomplish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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