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Synonyms

success

American  
[suhk-ses] / səkˈsɛs /

noun

  1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.

  2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

    Synonyms:
    triumph, accomplishment, achievement
  3. a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors.

    The play was an instant success.

  4. a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc..

    She was a great success on the talk show.

  5. Obsolete. outcome.


success British  
/ səkˈsɛs /

noun

  1. the favourable outcome of something attempted

  2. the attainment of wealth, fame, etc

  3. an action, performance, etc, that is characterized by success

  4. a person or thing that is successful

  5. obsolete any outcome

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonsuccess noun
  • presuccess noun
  • semisuccess adjective
  • successless adjective
  • successlessly adverb
  • successlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of success

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin successus, equivalent to succēd-, stem of succēdere succeed + -tus suffix of verb action, with -dt- regularly becoming -ss-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Some regions show strong chemical changes, while others are less affected. This uneven pattern helps explain why symptoms appear gradually and why treatments that focus on only one problem have had limited success."

From Science Daily

The firm's success was also critical to supporting the wider supply chain in the region, with many local firms providing parts for the vehicles.

From BBC

But it’s a start, and in chip-making, success is measured in decades, not years.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We want to help students get to school every day and put them on the track to success.”

From Los Angeles Times

Moreno had more success in the third round, but Kavanagh regained control with more thudding leg kicks, before seeing out victory by defending a number of takedowns.

From BBC