achieve

achieve — verb

1. to finally get a goal, result, or level that you wanted, usually thanks to month

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to finally get a goal, result, or level that you wanted, usually thanks to months or years of hard work.

Example

Fadi achieved her dream of running a marathon after two years of training.

achieve + noun (goal/dream)

The factory achieved record sales last quarter through better customer service.

achieve + something + through + (doing) something

Common collocations
  • achieve a goal
  • achieve success
  • achieve a dream
  • achieve results
  • achieve a record
  • achieve a balance
Synonyms
  • accomplish

    very close in meaning, slightly more formal; common in writing

  • attain

    formal; often used for status, levels, or standards rather than goals

  • reach

    more general; works for any target including physical places

Antonyms
  • fail

    the most direct opposite when the goal is missed

  • miss

    informal; suggests falling short by a small amount

Grammar Patterns

achieve + something

achieve + something + through/by + (doing) something

Usage Note

Object is usually something positive that took effort: a goal, dream, result, level, or status. Avoid using it for small everyday actions like 'achieve breakfast' — use 'finish' or 'have' instead.

Common Mistakes

I achieved to finish my homework.
I managed to finish my homework.
'achieve' is not followed by a to-infinitive; use a noun object or use 'manage to'.
She achieved the bus on time.
She caught the bus on time.
'achieve' is for goals or results that need effort, not for everyday actions.

2. to do well in life, school, or work, so that other people see you as successful.

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to do well in life, school, or work, so that other people see you as successful.

Example

Dilnoza is the kind of student who achieves in every subject she studies.

intransitive: no object after the verb

Children often achieve more when their parents read to them every night.

subject + achieve (no object)

Common collocations
  • achieve in school
  • achieve at the highest level
  • achieve academically
  • achieve in life
Synonyms
  • succeed

    very close; the most natural everyday choice

  • excel

    stronger; means doing much better than most people

  • thrive

    suggests growing and being happy, not just being successful

Antonyms
  • fail

    general opposite; doing badly overall

  • underachieve

    doing less well than your ability suggests

Grammar Patterns

achieve (used alone, no object)

Usage Note

Used without an object, unlike sense 1. Often paired with 'in + field' (achieve in school, achieve in business) or stands alone to praise general success. Distinguish from sense 1: here you are not naming a specific result — you are saying the person does well overall.

Common Mistakes

He achieves his exams every year.
He does well in his exams every year.
when naming a specific event, use sense 1 ('achieve a result') or a different verb.

Word family

  • achievement
    nounB1
  • achiever
    nounC1
  • achievable
    adjectiveB2
  • underachieve
    verbC1
  • underachiever
    nounC1
  • overachieve
    verbC1
  • overachiever
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These verbs all describe getting something you wanted, but they differ in tone and what kind of object follows. 'Achieve' is the most common in both speech and writing and works well with goals, results, and dreams that took real effort: 'achieve a goal'. 'Accomplish' is very close in meaning but slightly more formal and often points to a finished task: 'accomplish a mission'. 'Attain' sounds formal and is best used with levels, status, or standards: 'attain the rank of captain', 'attain enlightenment'. 'Reach' is the most neutral — it can mean a physical destination or a target like an agreement: 'reach an agreement'. 'Fulfill' is reserved for promises, dreams, and duties: 'fulfill a promise'. So you achieve a goal, attain a status, reach an agreement, and fulfill a dream.

achieve ↗accomplish ↗attain ↗reach ↗fulfill ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • achieve at the highest level
  • achieve beyond expectations
  • set out to achieve

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Old French 'achever', meaning 'to finish' or 'to bring to a head', built from the phrase 'a chief' — literally 'to a head' or 'to an end'. English borrowed the word in the 1300s, first with the sense of completing a task, and later widened it to mean reaching any goal that took effort.