# accomplishment

/əˈkɑmpɫɪʃmənt/ (US) · /ɐkˈɒmplɪʃmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accomplishment
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. an achievement

noun · CEFR B2

something difficult that you have succeeded in doing.

For teachers: the successful completion of a task or the attainment of a significant goal.

- Finishing the marathon was a huge accomplishment for someone who only started running last year.
- The successful negotiation of the peace treaty was hailed as a major diplomatic accomplishment for the young administration.

### 2. a skill

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a special skill or talent that you have learned, like playing an instrument.

For teachers: a refined skill or social grace acquired through education or practice.

- She has many accomplishments, including being a talented painter and a concert pianist.
- In the nineteenth century, the ability to speak French and play the harp were considered essential accomplishments for a young woman of status.

### 3. the act of finishing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of finishing a task or reaching a goal.

For teachers: the process or act of carrying something out to its conclusion.

- The accomplishment of our mission took much longer than we first expected.
- The rapid accomplishment of the project was only possible due to the seamless coordination between the engineering and design departments.

### 4. verb aspect

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Academic

a way to describe a verb that has a clear starting point and a natural end.

For teachers: the lexical aspect of a predicate that represents a process leading to a logical culmination or terminal point.

- In grammar, 'drawing a circle' is an accomplishment because it has a clear finish line.
- Linguists distinguish between activities and accomplishments, noting that the latter inherently includes a telic endpoint within the semantic structure of the verb phrase.

Usage: Used in linguistics to categorise verbs like 'build a house' or 'run a mile'.

## Examples

- Finishing the marathon was a great accomplishment for her.
- The team celebrated the accomplishment of their sales targets three months ahead of the final deadline.
- While individual talent is necessary, the accomplishment of such a massive engineering project required years of disciplined collaboration and substantial financial investment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.