achieve
verb
ə-ˈchēv 
achieved; achieving
transitive verb
1
: to carry out successfully : accomplish
achieve a gradual increase in production
2
: to get or attain as the result of exertion : reach
achieved a high degree of skill
achieved greatness
intransitive verb
: to attain a desired end or aim : become successful
achievable
ə-ˈchē-və-bəl
adjective 
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Common Misspellings
acheive, achive
Synonyms
- attain
- bag
- chalk up
- clock (up) [chiefly British]
- gain
- hit
- log
- make
- notch (up)
- rack up
- ring up
- score
- win
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a diet that achieves dramatic results With much practice, she has achieved a high level of skill. They achieved high scores on their math tests. We give students the skills they need in order to achieve in college.
Recent Examples on the Web Powell included Cox’s passage about the Idaho farm boys and the success that most applicants to Harvard could achieve. —
Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 The authors note that STAb cells achieve this superior cytotoxicity without releasing as many immune chemicals. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Management said Wednesday that Disney+ plus will achieve profitability by the end of its next fiscal year in September 2024. —Alex Veiga, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 The former athlete has been by his son's side throughout his career, as has his ex-wife Randi, who never doubted that her son would achieve this level of success. —Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2023 Still, companies are confident their products will eventually achieve price parity with traditional agriculture. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 20 Jan. 2023 Park district Director Nathan Eppink said the Brown-Trump Homestead will achieve each of those goals. —Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 16 Jan. 2023 Fairchild expressed confidence that Q could achieve stability if given the right medication. —Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Jan. 2023 Notably, Goldman Sachs argued in November that the Fed would achieve its ideal soft landing: slowing the labor market without plunging the economy into a recession. —Quartz, 6 Jan. 2023 See More
Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2023 The authors note that STAb cells achieve this superior cytotoxicity without releasing as many immune chemicals. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023 Management said Wednesday that Disney+ plus will achieve profitability by the end of its next fiscal year in September 2024. —Alex Veiga, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2023 The former athlete has been by his son's side throughout his career, as has his ex-wife Randi, who never doubted that her son would achieve this level of success. —Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2023 Still, companies are confident their products will eventually achieve price parity with traditional agriculture. —Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 20 Jan. 2023 Park district Director Nathan Eppink said the Brown-Trump Homestead will achieve each of those goals. —Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 16 Jan. 2023 Fairchild expressed confidence that Q could achieve stability if given the right medication. —Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Jan. 2023 Notably, Goldman Sachs argued in November that the Fed would achieve its ideal soft landing: slowing the labor market without plunging the economy into a recession. —Quartz, 6 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English acheven, borrowed from Anglo-French achever "to complete, carry out, succeed," from a-, prefix forming telic and transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + -chever, verbal derivative from chef, chief "end, head" — more at chief entry 3
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing achieve
Kids Definition
achieve
verb ə-ˈchēv
achieved; achieving
1
: accomplish
achieved our purpose
2
: to get by effort
achieve greatness
achievable
-ˈchē-və-bəl
adjective achiever noun
achieving
verb
1
as in attaining
to obtain (as a goal) through effort finally achieved stardom Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- attaining
- winning
- gaining
- making
- obtaining
- scoring
- garnering
- hitting
- securing
- getting
- capturing
- landing
- bagging
- acquiring
- logging
- realizing
- ringing up
- racking up
- procuring
- carrying
- drawing
- tying
- approaching
- chalking up
- clocking (up)
- matching
- meeting
- notching (up)
- equaling
- surpassing
- rivaling
- touching
- excelling
- outdoing
- topping
- equalling
- tieing
- rivalling
- measuring up (to)
- beating
- amounting (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- missing
- losing
- failing (at)
- falling short (of)
2
as in accomplishing
to carry through (as a process) to completion finally achieved his purpose, which was to form a first-class boys' choir made up of inner-city kids Synonyms & Similar Words
- accomplishing
- fulfilling
- performing
- executing
- doing
- making
- implementing
- committing
- negotiating
- prosecuting
- completing
- carrying out
- perpetrating
- attaining
- realizing
- finishing
- pulling off
- carrying off
- putting through
- effecting
- compassing
- going through
- effectuating
- bringing off
- practicing
- following through (with)
- bringing about
- acing
- nailing
- actualizing
- repeating
- ending
- practising
- reenacting
- reduplicating
- winding up
- engaging (in)
- working (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- failing
- slighting
- slurring
- skimping
- lachrymosities
- lachrymosity
- lachsschinken
- lachsschinkens
- lacier
- laciest
- make down
- make ducks and drakes of
- make ends meet
- make every effort
- make eyes
- make eyes (at)
- make eyes at
- make faces
- make for
- make free with
- make friends
- make friends with
- make fun of
- make game of
- make good
- make good (for)
- make good for
- make good on
- make good one's escape