# successful

/səkˈsɛsfəɫ/ (US) · /səksˈɛsfəl/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/successful
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

achieving the results you wanted or hoped for. It describes someone who has done well in their job, a project, or life in general.

For teachers: achieving a desired aim or result; having gained wealth, popularity, or status.

## Examples

- She is a very successful lawyer in the city.
- The new marketing campaign was so successful that the company sold out of its entire stock within a week.
- While the initial prototype failed to meet safety standards, the subsequent redesign proved successful, eventually securing the necessary patents for mass production.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is success in his job" but "He is successful in his job" — Learners often use the noun 'success' where the adjective 'successful' is required.

## Usage notes

- Typically used before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

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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.