accomplish

accomplish — verb

1. to manage to do or finish a task or goal that you set out to achieve, especially

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to manage to do or finish a task or goal that you set out to achieve, especially one that takes effort, planning, or skill.

Example

Diego accomplished his dream of running a marathon before turning thirty.

accomplish + [personal goal] noun phrase

The team accomplished a great deal during the three-day workshop in Taipei.

collocation: accomplish a great deal / much / little

Common collocations
  • accomplish a goal
  • accomplish a task
  • accomplish a mission
  • accomplish a great deal
  • accomplish very little
  • accomplish nothing
Synonyms
  • achieve

    very close synonym; 'achieve' fits a wider range of objects (results, dreams, fame) and is slightly more common.

  • complete

    focuses on finishing every part of a task; less about effort or skill than 'accomplish'.

  • attain

    more formal; usually paired with status, levels, or standards (attain a degree, attain the rank of).

  • fulfill

    used with promises, dreams, or duties — emphasizes meeting an expectation rather than the work involved.

Antonyms
  • fail

    to not manage to do or finish what you set out to do.

  • abandon

    to give up on a task or goal before finishing it.

Grammar Patterns

accomplish + [task/goal/objective]

accomplish + a great deal/much/little/nothing

Usage Note

Object is almost always a goal-shaped noun (task, mission, goal, dream, aim) or a quantity word like 'much', 'a great deal', 'little', 'nothing'. Avoid using 'accomplish' with everyday actions such as 'eat lunch' or 'open a door' — use 'do' or 'finish' instead.

Common Mistakes

I accomplished my homework last night.
I finished my homework last night.
'accomplish' is too heavy for routine school tasks; reserve it for goals that take real effort.
She accomplished to win the prize.
She managed to win the prize.' / 'She succeeded in winning the prize.
'accomplish' takes a noun object, not a to-infinitive.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe reaching an end point, but they differ in what they highlight. 'Achieve' is the broadest and most everyday choice — it works for results, dreams, success, and abstract states ('achieve fame'). 'Accomplish' is similar but stresses the effort, planning, or skill behind the result, and almost always takes a goal-shaped noun ('accomplish the mission'). 'Complete' is purely about finishing every step of something already defined ('complete the form'). 'Attain' is formal and pairs with levels, standards, or status ('attain a black belt', 'attain the rank of captain'). 'Fulfill' is reserved for promises, dreams, duties, or expectations ('fulfill a promise'). Compare: 'She completed the report' (every section is done) vs 'She accomplished a difficult report' (a hard piece of work was pulled off).

accomplish ↗achieve ↗complete ↗attain ↗fulfill ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • successfully accomplish
  • finally accomplish
  • easily accomplish

Phrases

Prepositions

  • accomplish through [hard work]
  • accomplish with [help from]
  • accomplish in [a short time]

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Old French 'acomplir', meaning to fill up or carry out, which came from a Latin combination of 'ad-' (to) and 'complere' (to fill). The original idea was 'filling something up to the end' — finishing it completely. The verb entered English in the 14th century with the sense of completing a task, and the modern meaning of carrying out a goal through effort grew naturally from there.