successful

[ suhk-ses-fuhl ]

adjective

1. achieving or having achieved success.
2. having attained wealth, position, honors, or the like.
3. resulting in or attended with success.

successful

/ səkˈsɛsfʊl /

adjective

1. having succeeded in one's endeavours
2. marked by a favourable outcome
3. having obtained fame, wealth, etc

Derived Forms

• sucˈcessfulness, noun
• sucˈcessfully, adverb

Other Words From

• suc·cessful·ly adverb
• suc·cessful·ness noun
• half-suc·cessful adjective
• half-suc·cessful·ly adverb
• half-suc·cessful·ness noun
• nonsuc·cessful adjective
• nonsuc·cessful·ly adverb
• presuc·cessful adjective
• presuc·cessful·ly adverb
• quasi-suc·cessful adjective
• quasi-suc·cessful·ly adverb
• semi·suc·cessful adjective
• semi·suc·cessful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of successful¹

First recorded in 1580–90; success + -ful

Example Sentences

If successful, the research undertaken by the team at UL also has the potential to remove environmentally damaging materials such as lead from consumer electronics.

From Science Daily

After confirming successful plant growth, the 'soil' was baked leaving only the glass with root cavities.

From Science Daily

Craig Bellamy hopes his successful start as Wales head coach has proved he is not the "lunatic" some expected him to be.

From BBC

Keothavong, naturally, insisted from the outset that her team had the quality to be successful.

From BBC

According to the statement, the plotters had not just planned to assassinate the president-elect and the vice-president-elect but also wanted to arrest and execute a member of the Supreme Court once their coup was successful.

From BBC

Related Words

• fortunate
• fruitful
• happy
• lucky
• lucrative
• outstanding
• prosperous
• rewarding
• strong
• wealthy

How Do You Spell Successful?

Spelling tips for successful

The word successful is hard to spell because it can be hard to know which letters are doubled. Both the c and the middle s are doubled, but the f and l are not. 

How to spell successful: To be a success, you need to see (two Cs) Some Smarts (two Ss). This reminds you that success is spelled with a double C in the middle and a double S at the end. To spell successful, you add the base word (success) to the suffix -ful.