achievement

noun

achieve·​ment ə-ˈchēv-mənt How to pronounce achievement (audio)
Synonyms of achievement
1
: the act of achieving something
the achievement of an ambition
2
a
: a result gained by effort : accomplishment
being honored for her academic achievements
a major scientific achievement
b
: a great or heroic deed
3
: the quality and quantity of a student's work
standardized tests to measure achievement

Synonyms of achievement

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feat, exploit, achievement mean a remarkable deed.

feat implies strength or dexterity or daring.

an acrobatic feat

exploit suggests an adventurous or heroic act.

his exploits as a spy

achievement implies hard-won success in the face of difficulty or opposition.

her achievements as a chemist

Examples of achievement in a Sentence

The discovery of DNA was a major scientific achievement. It was a great achievement. Getting the project done on time was a real achievement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But what do athletes think of robots not only encroaching on their turf, but surpassing their achievements? — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Document your achievements and build a portfolio that showcases your capabilities. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The secret to that achievement has been packaged as Gap Optical Targeting. — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Its survey will produce huge amounts of data and could solve several cosmic mysteries, with potential achievements ranging from understanding dark energy to detecting exoplanets—and finding some things astronomers don’t even know about yet. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for achievement

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French achevement, from achever "to achieve" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Phrases Containing achievement

Rhymes for achievement

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Browse Nearby Words

achieved
achievement
achievement quotient
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Cite this Entry

“Achievement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/achievement. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

achievement

noun
achieve·​ment ə-ˈchēv-mənt How to pronounce achievement (audio)
1
: the act of achieving
2
: something achieved

More from Merriam-Webster on achievement

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about achievement

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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