achievement

[ uh-cheev-muhnt ]

noun

1. something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort, great courage, etc.; a great or heroic deed:

   his remarkable achievements in art.

2. the act of achieving; attainment or accomplishment:

   the achievement of one's object.

   Synonyms: realization, fulfillment

3. Heraldry. the full display of the armorial bearings of an individual or corporation.
4. Digital Technology. a title or icon associated with a user profile or account that indicates the person's skill or rank in an online community, especially on a gaming platform.

achievement

/ əˈtʃiːvmənt /

noun

1. something that has been accomplished, esp by hard work, ability, or heroism
2. successful completion; accomplishment
3. heraldry a less common word for hatchment

Other Words From

• super·a·chievement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of achievement¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French achevement “conclusion”; equivalent to achieve + -ment

Synonym Study

Achievement, exploit, feat are terms for a noteworthy act. Achievement connotes final accomplishment of something noteworthy, after much effort and often in spite of obstacles and discouragements: a scientific achievement. Exploit connotes boldness, bravery, and usually ingenuity: the famous exploit of an aviator. Feat connotes the performance of something difficult, generally demanding skill and strength: a feat of horsemanship.

Example Sentences

Like selection, England have to be mindful not to devalue domestic achievements in favour of chasing star names.

From BBC

He was presented with the lifetime achievement award and paid tribute to his manager Erv Woolsey, who died earlier this year.

From BBC

Ms Longfield says a “culture of exclusions” over the last decade has been driven by an “emphasis on academic achievement and grades”.

From BBC

Davis will be joined by the winner of the Carol Burnett Award honoring television achievements, which has yet to be announced.

From Los Angeles Times

Chancellor Rachel Reeves's CV came under the spotlight at Prime Minister's Questions, following claims she had embellished some of her past achievements.

From BBC

Related Words

• accomplishment
• attainment
• creation
• deed
• effort
• feat
• performance
• realization
• success
• triumph
• victory

More About Achievement

What does achievement mean?

An achievement is a great accomplishment—something achieved with great effort or skill.

Achieve and achievement often imply the completion of something important or difficult—a lofty goal or a great feat. Graduating high school is an achievement. Learning a new language is an achievement. An award is an achievement.

Achievement can also refer to the act of achieving, as in We need to focus on the achievement of these goals. This sense of the word doesn’t always imply impressiveness by itself—it often means the same thing as completion.

Example: Becoming a nurse is a major achievement—it represents years of hard work and sacrifice.

Where does achievement come from?

The first records of the term achievement come from the 1400s. It comes from the French word achevement, meaning “conclusion,” from Old French achever, “to bring to an end,” from the phrase a chef, meaning “to a head” or “to a conclusion.” The suffix -ment is used in nouns and indicates an action or state.

Achievement is often (though not always) used in the context of completing a set goal—one that is planned or desired before it is accomplished. Achievements are often celebrated by people because they are the result of a lot of effort and hard work. Achievement is generally used in a positive way in the context of completing beneficial goals (though an achievement can involve bad things—taking over the world might be an accomplishment for a supervillain).

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to achievement?

• achieve (verb)

What are some synonyms for achievement?

• accomplishment
• attainment
• success
• triumph
• completion
• fulfillment

What are some words that share a root or word element with achievement? 

• chef
• chief

What are some words that often get used in discussing achievement?

• effort 
• work
• congratulations
• goal
• succeed
• extraordinary

How is achievement used in real life?

Achievement is very commonly used. It’s usually used in a positive way.

Incredibly grateful to have received the vaccine today! It’s a remarkable achievement of human ingenuity that we already have a vaccine for this terrible disease. Praying that everyone who wants it can get it soon too! Please stay safe! 2021 is starting to look up! 😁😁😁

— Asha Gupta Cogdill, MD (@AshaCogdill) December 17, 2020

In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth we celebrate Katherine Johnson who's work on the 1962 orbital mission of John Glenn is portrayed in the movie "Hidden Figures." To read more about her many achievements during her long career with @NASA go to: https://t.co/hJteyEUDtR#HiddenFigures pic.twitter.com/Deezh6j5ya

— NASA History Office (@NASAhistory) February 8, 2018

Today my mother, Dame Eileen Sills, retires after a 40 year career as a nurse in the NHS. She’s been the most inspirational woman, nurse and mother. As she hangs up her uniform for the last time today and reflects on her many achievements I’m sure many will want her to know that

— Chelsie Sills (@ChelsieSills) August 7, 2020

Try using achievement!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of achievement?

A. accomplishment
B. success
C. failure
D. triumph