ENGLISH
REFERENCE

achievement

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //əˈtʃivmənt// UK //ɐtʃˈiːvmənt// achieve·ment General-service

n. something great that you have done after working hard. It is the feeling of success when you finish a difficult task.

n. something accomplished, especially by superior ability, special effort, or great courage. Often used to refer to the act of reaching a goal or the result of that effort.


SIMPLE

Winning the race was a great achievement for her.

CONTEXTUAL

The new hospital is a significant achievement for the local community and will save many lives.

COMPLEX

While individual brilliance is often celebrated, the landing on the moon remains a collective human achievement that required the coordination of thousands of specialists.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French achevement (compare Modern French achèvement), from Old French achevement, from the verb achever, achiever (“to finish”); equivalent to achieve + -ment. The heraldic sense may be influenced by hatchment.

Usage

Countable when referring to specific successes; uncountable when referring to the general state or process of succeeding.

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