Explanation at your level:
If you are successful, you do a good job. You finish your work. If you play a game and win, you are successful. It is a good word to use when you are happy with what you did.
Being successful means you reached a goal. For example, if you study for a test and get an A, you are successful. You can also say a business is successful if it makes a lot of money.
We use successful to describe people who have achieved their aims. It is common to say 'a successful career' or 'a successful person.' It implies that you worked hard and got the result you wanted.
The word successful is often used in professional contexts. It suggests that someone has reached a high level of performance or wealth. It is more descriptive than just saying 'good' or 'lucky.'
In advanced English, successful can describe complex outcomes. It implies a strategic achievement. You might say 'a successful negotiation' or 'a successful implementation of a policy,' showing that the result was planned and executed well.
At the C2 level, successful carries nuances of sustained achievement. It is not just a one-time win; it often implies a track record of excellence. In literary or academic prose, it highlights the culmination of effort and vision over time.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- It is an adjective.
- Means achieving a goal.
- Rooted in Latin.
- Very common in English.
When we call someone successful, we are usually celebrating their achievements. It is a positive word that tells us someone put in the work and saw a great result. Whether it is winning a game, getting a good grade, or launching a big business, the word captures that feeling of 'mission accomplished.'
You can use this word for people, but also for things. For example, a successful party is one where everyone had fun and nothing went wrong. A successful experiment is one that proved a theory. It is a very versatile word that helps us describe progress and victory in both our personal lives and our careers.
The word successful comes from the Latin word succedere, which means 'to come after' or 'to follow.' Over time, the meaning shifted from just 'following' to 'following with a good outcome.' It entered English through the Middle French word succès.
It is fascinating how the word evolved! Originally, it just meant something that happened next in a sequence. Eventually, people started using it to describe things that followed a plan perfectly. By the 16th century, it became the standard way to describe someone who had achieved wealth or high status in society.
In daily life, we often pair successful with nouns like career, business, or person. You might hear people say, 'She is a very successful entrepreneur.' It works well in both casual chats and formal business reports.
Be careful with the register! While it is common, it is a bit more formal than saying someone 'did great.' If you are writing a resume or talking to a boss, successful is a fantastic, professional choice that sounds polished and confident.
1. Hit the jackpot: To be very successful in a sudden way. Example: He hit the jackpot with his new app.
2. Make the grade: To reach the necessary standard of success. Example: She studied hard to make the grade.
3. On the road to success: Currently making progress toward a goal. Example: She is on the road to success after that promotion.
4. A roaring success: Something that is extremely successful. Example: The charity gala was a roaring success.
5. Strike gold: To find success or wealth. Example: They struck gold when they found that new market.
Successful is an adjective, so it usually comes before a noun (a successful project) or after a linking verb (the project was successful). It does not have a plural form because it describes a quality.
The IPA is /səkˈsɛsfʊl/. The stress is on the second syllable: suc-cess-ful. It rhymes with words like stressful (though they have opposite meanings!). Remember to pronounce the double 's' clearly.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'succession', which means to follow in order.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear s-k-s-e-s-f-u-l.
Slightly softer ending.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'c' as 'k' incorrectly
- Adding an extra syllable
- Misplacing the stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
neutral
neutral
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
He is successful.
Gerunds after prepositions
Successful in doing.
Word families
Success/Succeed/Successful
Examples by Level
He is a successful student.
He = student, successful = good.
Adjective before noun.
The party was successful.
Party = fun.
Adjective after verb.
She is successful.
She did it.
Simple sentence.
The plan was successful.
Plan = worked.
Adjective after verb.
They are successful.
Group = did well.
Plural subject.
It was a successful day.
Day = good.
Adjective before noun.
A successful game.
Game = win.
Adjective before noun.
We were successful.
We = win.
Past tense.
The business is very successful.
He had a successful career.
They are successful athletes.
The meeting was successful.
It was a successful trip.
She is a successful writer.
The project was successful.
They were successful in the end.
He is one of the most successful people I know.
The company launched a successful marketing campaign.
She enjoyed a long and successful career in law.
The surgery was successful.
They had a successful outcome to their research.
It was a highly successful event.
They are looking for a successful strategy.
The team had a successful season.
The film was a massive commercial success.
She has been successful in overcoming many obstacles.
The successful candidate will start in June.
His successful transition to management was impressive.
They implemented a successful new system.
The negotiations were successful for both parties.
It requires a successful blend of talent and hard work.
They enjoyed a successful partnership for years.
The successful execution of the plan required careful coordination.
She is a highly successful author with a global following.
The project was deemed successful by the board.
His successful career is a testament to his dedication.
They achieved a successful resolution to the dispute.
The successful integration of new technology is vital.
She is a successful entrepreneur in the tech sector.
The experiment yielded a successful result.
His successful tenure as CEO transformed the firm.
The successful realization of their vision took decades.
She is a successful proponent of environmental reform.
The successful outcome was entirely due to her leadership.
They celebrated a successful conclusion to the campaign.
The successful application of these principles is key.
He is a successful academic in the field of physics.
The successful launch marked a turning point.
Sinónimos
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"make a success of"
to make something work well
She made a success of her small shop.
neutral"soar to success"
to become successful very quickly
His career soared to success.
literary"taste success"
to experience success for the first time
They finally tasted success.
neutral"the key to success"
the most important factor for success
Hard work is the key to success.
neutral"nothing succeeds like success"
success leads to more success
He got another contract; nothing succeeds like success.
formal"a recipe for success"
a set of actions that lead to success
Preparation is a recipe for success.
neutralEasily Confused
Noun vs Adjective
Success is the thing, successful is the description.
He had success. He is successful.
Verb vs Adjective
Succeed is the action.
He will succeed. He is successful.
Adverb vs Adjective
Adverb describes the action.
He worked successfully.
Similar root
Succession is about order.
The succession of kings.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + is + successful
The plan is successful.
Subject + is + a + successful + noun
He is a successful doctor.
Subject + was + successful + in + doing
She was successful in winning.
Highly + successful + noun
A highly successful project.
To + be + successful + at + noun
To be successful at sports.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
Only one 'l' at the end.
Use 'in' + gerund.
Success is a noun, successful is the adjective.
Need an adjective after 'is'.
Do not add -er to long words.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a trophy in every room.
Professional Use
Use it in your cover letter.
Western Values
Success is highly prized.
Adjective Rule
Successful describes a noun.
Stress
Stress the middle syllable.
Spelling
One L at the end!
Root Word
Latin origin.
Word Family
Learn succeed, success, successful together.
Collocations
Use with 'highly'.
Prepositions
Successful in.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
SUC-CESS-FUL: See U Can CESS (access) FULL success!
Visual Association
A trophy sitting on a desk.
Word Web
Desafío
Use 'successful' three times today.
Origen de la palabra
Latin
Original meaning: To follow after
Contexto cultural
None, generally a positive word.
Highly valued in business and education cultures.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- successful career
- successful project
- successful meeting
school
- successful student
- successful exam
- successful term
sports
- successful team
- successful season
- successful match
business
- successful business
- successful launch
- successful negotiation
Conversation Starters
"What does being successful mean to you?"
"Who is the most successful person you know?"
"Is money the only way to be successful?"
"Can you describe a successful day you had recently?"
"What is the key to being successful?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt successful.
Define success in your own words.
List three goals for a successful year.
How can you help others be successful?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasIt is successful with one L.
Yes, a project can be successful.
Successfully.
Succeed.
Yes, very positive.
Yes, a successful person.
Often, but it can just mean achieving a goal.
Extremely common.
Ponte a prueba
She is a ___ student.
Needs an adjective.
Which means to do well?
Successful means doing well.
Successful is a noun.
It is an adjective.
Word
Significado
Noun vs Adjective.
Subject-verb-adjective.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
Successful describes someone or something that has achieved a desired result through effort.
- It is an adjective.
- Means achieving a goal.
- Rooted in Latin.
- Very common in English.
Memory Palace
Imagine a trophy in every room.
Professional Use
Use it in your cover letter.
Western Values
Success is highly prized.
Adjective Rule
Successful describes a noun.
Ejemplo
She is a very successful doctor in our small town.
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