accomplish

[ uh-kom-plish ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bring to its goal or conclusion; carry out; perform; finish:

   to accomplish one's mission.

   Synonyms: effect, execute, fulfill, complete

2. to complete (a distance or period of time):

   to have accomplished the age of 70;

   We accomplished the journey in little more than an hour.

3. Archaic. to provide polish to; perfect.

accomplish

/ əˈkɒmplɪʃ; əˈkʌm- /

verb

1. to manage to do; achieve
2. to conclude successfully; complete

Derived Forms

• acˈcomplisher, noun
• acˈcomplishable, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·complish·a·ble adjective
• ac·complish·er noun
• preac·complish verb (used with object)
• unac·complish·a·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accomplish¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French accompliss-, stem of acomplir, equivalent to a- ac- + complir, ultimately from Latin complēre “to fill”; complete, -ish ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of accomplish¹

C14: from Old French acomplir to complete, ultimately from Latin complēre to fill up. See complete

Synonym Study

See do ¹.

Example Sentences

In the molecules of my memory, I hold on to the punctuated beauty of the flower because I believe in what it can accomplish, in what it returns, in what it allows room for.

From Los Angeles Times

No one knows much about how Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy plan to accomplish that task, only that they and the president they will serve want big reforms not beholden to precedent.

From Los Angeles Times

Their leaders say the tax has hampered their ability to accomplish one of Measure ULA’s primary goals: provide affordable housing.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump, the film shows, does not accomplish much on his own, other than begging favors and incurring debts.

From Salon

The double-edged sword of achieving powerful social status as a marginalized person in American society is the assimilation necessary to accomplish it.

From Slate

Related Words

• achieve
• attain
• bring about
• carry out
• conclude
• do
• finish
• manage
• perform
• produce
• pull off
• reach
• realize
• score
• take care of
• win