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A2 verb #391 le plus courant 16 min de lecture

achieve

Top 391

At the A1 level, 'achieve' is a bit advanced, but you can understand it as a way to say 'finish' or 'get' something good after working. Think about simple things you do at school or home. If you study hard and get a good grade, you achieve that grade. If you practice a sport and win a game, you achieve a win. It is about doing something you wanted to do. You can use it in simple sentences like 'I want to achieve my goals.' It is a positive word that shows you are happy with what you did. Even at this early stage, learning 'achieve' helps you talk about your dreams and the things you are proud of. It is better than just saying 'I did it' because it shows you worked for it. You might hear your teacher say 'Well done, you achieved a lot today!' This means you did many things and did them well. Remember, 'achieve' is about the result of your work. If you find a coin on the street, you didn't achieve it. But if you save money for a month to buy a toy, you achieved your goal of buying the toy. It is a word for workers and dreamers. Try to use it when you talk about your hobbies or your English learning. For example, 'I want to achieve a high level in English.' This sounds very good and shows you are serious about learning. Don't worry about the spelling too much yet, just focus on the meaning: Work + Success = Achieve.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'achieve' more often to describe your daily successes and small milestones. It is a 'step up' from basic verbs like 'do' or 'get'. At this level, you can use it to talk about your work, your studies, and your hobbies. For example, 'I achieved a lot at work this week' or 'She achieved her goal of running five kilometers.' It helps you sound more professional and precise. You will often see 'achieve' in textbooks and on websites that talk about success. It is usually followed by a noun, like 'success', 'a goal', or 'a result'. You can also use it in the past tense: 'He achieved his dream.' One important thing to remember at A2 is that 'achieve' is for things that take effort. You don't 'achieve' waking up in the morning (unless it was very hard!), but you do 'achieve' finishing a big project. It is also a great word to use when you are talking about your progress in English. You can say, 'I have achieved the A2 level.' This sounds much more impressive than 'I am at A2.' It shows that you have worked hard to get there. You might also see it in advertisements, like 'Achieve the look you want with our new product.' Here, it means 'get' or 'reach'. As an A2 learner, try to replace 'get' with 'achieve' when you are talking about something you worked for. It will make your English sound much more natural and advanced.

By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'achieve' in a variety of contexts, including professional and academic settings. You understand that 'achieve' is not just about finishing a task, but about the successful attainment of a specific objective through skill and effort. You can use it to describe complex processes, such as 'achieving a balance between work and life' or 'achieving a consensus in a group discussion.' At this level, you should also be aware of the noun form, 'achievement', and how to use it in sentences like 'Winning the prize was a great achievement.' You can start using adverbs to modify the verb, such as 'successfully achieve', 'finally achieve', or 'hardly achieve'. This adds more detail to your descriptions. You will encounter 'achieve' frequently in news reports, business articles, and motivational literature. It is a key word for discussing career goals and personal development. For example, in a job interview, you might say, 'In my last role, I achieved all my targets ahead of schedule.' This shows you are results-oriented and capable. You should also be careful not to confuse 'achieve' with 'attain' or 'reach', as discussed in the common mistakes section. 'Achieve' is your go-to word for goals and results that require action. It is also useful for discussing social and political issues, such as 'achieving equality' or 'achieving economic growth.' At B1, 'achieve' becomes a versatile tool in your vocabulary, allowing you to express success and ambition with clarity and sophistication.

At the B2 level, you have a nuanced understanding of 'achieve' and can use it to express subtle differences in meaning. You recognize that 'achieve' implies a significant degree of effort and often a long-term commitment. You can use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as the passive voice ('The results were achieved through careful planning') or in conditional sentences ('If we work together, we can achieve anything'). You are also familiar with common collocations like 'achieve a breakthrough', 'achieve a milestone', and 'achieve a competitive advantage.' At this level, you can distinguish between 'achieve' and its synonyms like 'accomplish' and 'realize' based on the context. For instance, you know that 'realizing a dream' sounds more poetic and personal than 'achieving a dream', which sounds more practical. You can use 'achieve' to discuss abstract concepts like 'achieving greatness' or 'achieving inner peace.' In academic writing, you use 'achieve' to describe the outcomes of research or the fulfillment of hypotheses. You are also aware of the word's role in corporate culture, where it is used to define success and drive performance. You can use the word to critique or analyze situations, such as 'The government failed to achieve its environmental targets.' This shows a high level of linguistic competence. Your use of 'achieve' is now precise, varied, and context-appropriate, reflecting your advanced command of the English language. You can also use it in idiomatic expressions and understand its use in various registers, from formal reports to casual conversations about personal goals.

At the C1 level, your use of 'achieve' is sophisticated and deeply integrated into your overall command of English. You understand the word not just as a verb of success, but as a marker of agency and intentionality. You can use it to explore complex philosophical and social themes, such as the 'achievement of human potential' or the 'challenges of achieving global sustainability.' You are adept at using 'achieve' in highly formal and academic contexts, where it often appears in nominalized forms or within intricate passive constructions. You can also use it to convey irony or skepticism, such as 'He achieved fame, but at what cost?' This shows an ability to use the word beyond its literal, positive meaning. You are familiar with rare or technical collocations and can use the word to describe subtle states of being, like 'achieving a state of flow' or 'achieving a sense of belonging.' Your vocabulary includes a wide range of synonyms and related terms, allowing you to choose 'achieve' only when it is the most precise word for the situation. You understand the historical and cultural weight of the word, especially in the context of the 'American Dream' or other meritocratic ideals. In professional settings, you use 'achieve' to articulate vision and strategy, showing how specific actions lead to high-level outcomes. Your mastery of the word allows you to use it with elegance and impact, whether you are writing a persuasive essay, delivering a keynote speech, or engaging in a high-level debate. You can also analyze the use of 'achieve' in literature and media, recognizing how it shapes narratives of success and failure.

At the C2 level, you have reached a near-native or native-like mastery of 'achieve'. You use the word with total spontaneity and precision, effortlessly navigating its various connotations and registers. You can use 'achieve' to construct complex, multi-layered arguments about the nature of success, effort, and human endeavor. You are aware of the most subtle nuances, such as the difference between 'achieving a result' and 'securing an outcome', and you use this knowledge to refine your communication to the highest degree. You can use the word in creative and literary ways, perhaps using it metaphorically to describe the 'achievement' of a particular aesthetic or atmosphere in a work of art. You are also capable of deconstructing the word's usage in different cultural and historical contexts, understanding how the concept of 'achievement' has evolved over time. In the most formal academic or legal settings, you use 'achieve' with absolute grammatical accuracy and stylistic flair. You can also use it in the most casual settings without sounding overly formal, by blending it with contemporary slang or idiomatic expressions. Your understanding of 'achieve' is so deep that you can play with its meaning, using it in puns or wordplay. You are a master of the word's family, using 'achiever', 'achievement', 'achievable', and 'unachievable' with perfect ease. For you, 'achieve' is more than just a word; it is a versatile tool for expressing the full range of human accomplishment, from the most mundane tasks to the most profound triumphs of the human spirit. You can use it to inspire, to analyze, to critique, and to celebrate, always choosing the perfect form and context for your message.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

achieve en 30 secondes

Achieve means reaching a goal through hard work and skill.
It is a regular verb: achieve, achieved, achieving.
Commonly used with goals, success, results, and targets.
Implies active effort rather than passive luck.

The verb achieve is a cornerstone of the English language when discussing progress, success, and the culmination of hard work. At its core, to achieve something means to reach a desired objective or result through sustained effort, skill, or courage. It is not merely about something happening by chance; it implies a process of striving and eventually succeeding. When you achieve a goal, you are the active agent in that success. This word is frequently used in professional, academic, and personal growth contexts to highlight milestones that required dedication.

Core Concept: The successful completion of a task or the reaching of a milestone through intentional action and perseverance.

In everyday conversation, people use 'achieve' to describe both small victories and life-altering accomplishments. For instance, a student might achieve a high grade on a difficult exam, while a scientist might achieve a breakthrough in medical research. The word carries a positive connotation, suggesting that the outcome is valuable and earned. It is often paired with abstract nouns like 'success', 'greatness', 'balance', or 'independence'. Unlike the word 'get', which can be passive, 'achieve' emphasizes the 'how'—the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the result.

After years of training, the athlete finally managed to achieve her dream of winning an Olympic gold medal.

Furthermore, 'achieve' is used to discuss collective efforts. Organizations aim to achieve their quarterly targets, and nations strive to achieve economic stability. In these contexts, the word underscores a shared vision and coordinated action. It is a word of empowerment. When someone tells you that you can achieve anything you set your mind to, they are acknowledging your potential to overcome obstacles and reach a peak of performance.

Common Usage: Commonly found in performance reviews, motivational speeches, and academic reports to denote the attainment of standards.

The nuance of 'achieve' also involves the idea of a 'finish line'. It suggests that there was a starting point, a period of exertion, and a final point of arrival. This makes it a perfect verb for storytelling, especially in 'rags-to-riches' narratives or tales of overcoming adversity. When we look at the history of human progress, we see a series of things achieved: landing on the moon, the eradication of certain diseases, and the development of the internet. Each of these was an achievement—a noun form that stems directly from this active verb.

It is remarkable what a small group of dedicated individuals can achieve when they work toward a common purpose.

In a psychological sense, achieving is linked to self-actualization. Humans have an innate drive to achieve, to master their environment, and to prove their competence. This is why 'achievement' is a key metric in education and psychology. When you achieve, you gain more than just the goal itself; you gain confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. This psychological dimension is why the word feels so rewarding to use and to hear.

Synonym Note: 'Attain' is a close synonym but often refers to reaching a state or level (like attaining a certain age), whereas 'achieve' focuses more on the completion of a task.

To achieve financial independence, one must be disciplined with their spending and investments.

Finally, the word 'achieve' is often used in the passive voice in formal writing. For example, 'The desired results were achieved through a combination of strategy and luck.' This shifts the focus from the person to the outcome itself. Whether used in the active or passive voice, 'achieve' remains one of the most aspirational and significant verbs in the English lexicon, bridging the gap between a dream and a reality.

Many people fail to achieve their full potential because they are afraid of taking risks.

We must work together if we want to achieve a sustainable future for the next generation.

Using the word achieve correctly requires understanding its grammatical patterns and the types of objects it typically takes. As a transitive verb, it almost always requires a direct object—the thing that is being accomplished. You don't just 'achieve'; you achieve *something*. This 'something' is usually a goal, a status, a result, or a level of performance. Understanding these pairings is key to sounding natural in English.

Sentence Structure: Subject + achieve + Noun Phrase (Goal/Result). Example: 'The team achieved victory.'

One of the most common ways to use 'achieve' is in the infinitive form 'to achieve'. This is often used to express purpose or intent. For example, 'He studied every night to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor.' Here, the infinitive phrase explains the motivation behind the action. It can also be used as the subject of a sentence, though this is more formal: 'To achieve greatness requires sacrifice.'

If you want to achieve success in business, you need to understand your customers' needs.

In terms of tenses, 'achieve' follows the standard regular verb conjugation: achieve, achieved, achieving. The past tense 'achieved' is very common in resumes and job descriptions. Instead of saying 'I was responsible for sales,' a more impactful way to phrase it is 'I achieved a 20% increase in sales.' This emphasizes the result rather than just the duty. The present continuous 'achieving' is used to describe an ongoing process of success: 'The company is currently achieving record profits.'

Common Collocations: Achieve a goal, achieve success, achieve a target, achieve a balance, achieve a breakthrough.

Negative sentences using 'achieve' often highlight failure or the lack of effort. 'They failed to achieve their objectives despite having a large budget.' Notice how 'fail to achieve' is a common and sophisticated way to say 'did not reach'. It sounds more professional than 'did not get'. You can also use adverbs to modify 'achieve'. Common adverbs include 'successfully', 'easily', 'finally', 'hardly', and 'consistently'. For example, 'She consistently achieves the highest marks in her class.'

It took several attempts, but they finally achieved a stable connection between the two devices.

In questions, 'achieve' is often used to ask about feasibility or methods. 'How can we achieve a better work-life balance?' or 'What do you hope to achieve by the end of this year?' These questions are standard in interviews and goal-setting sessions. The word 'achieve' elevates the conversation, making it sound more focused and ambitious. It moves the discussion from 'what are you doing' to 'what is the ultimate result of your actions'.

Phrasal Variations: While 'achieve' doesn't have many phrasal verb forms, it is often used in 'achieve through' or 'achieve by' constructions to show the method.

The artist achieved fame only after many years of working in obscurity.

When using 'achieve' in complex sentences, it often acts as the result of a conditional clause. 'If we implement these changes, we will achieve much higher efficiency.' This structure is vital for business proposals and scientific hypotheses. It links a specific action to a guaranteed or hoped-for outcome. By mastering these patterns, you can use 'achieve' to express a wide range of successes, from the personal to the global.

By working together, the community achieved what many thought was impossible: building a new park in just one weekend.

What do you think is the most important thing for a person to achieve in their lifetime?

The word achieve is ubiquitous in modern life, appearing in diverse settings from corporate boardrooms to motivational YouTube videos. Understanding where you are likely to encounter it helps in grasping its various shades of meaning. In the workplace, 'achieve' is a high-frequency word. You will hear it during performance reviews when managers discuss whether employees have 'achieved their KPIs' (Key Performance Indicators). It is also a staple of mission statements, where companies declare their intent to 'achieve excellence' or 'achieve market leadership'.

Corporate Context: Used to measure productivity, goal attainment, and strategic success within a business framework.

In the realm of education, 'achieve' is used to describe student progress. Teachers talk about 'achieving learning outcomes' or students 'achieving their potential'. Standardized testing is often referred to as 'achievement testing', measuring what a student has learned and can do. This academic usage emphasizes the result of study and instruction. When you graduate, you have achieved a degree—a formal recognition of your hard work and knowledge.

The school's primary mission is to help every student achieve academic success and personal growth.

Motivational and self-help culture is perhaps the most visible home for 'achieve'. Phrases like 'Achieve your dreams', 'Believe and achieve', and 'How to achieve more in less time' are everywhere. In this context, 'achieve' is used to inspire and drive people toward self-improvement. It suggests that success is within reach if one has the right mindset and habits. Podcasts, books, and seminars often focus on the 'secrets' to achieving greatness, making the word synonymous with personal fulfillment.

Media & News: Journalists use 'achieve' to report on diplomatic breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and sports victories.

In the news, 'achieve' is used for significant events. You might hear a news anchor say, 'The two nations have achieved a historic peace agreement,' or 'Scientists have achieved a major milestone in fusion energy.' These uses highlight the importance and difficulty of the accomplishment. In sports, commentators frequently use the word to describe athletes reaching new heights: 'He has achieved a new world record' or 'The team achieved an unlikely comeback.' It adds a sense of drama and weight to the reporting.

After months of negotiations, the diplomats finally achieved a consensus on the new trade treaty.

You will also find 'achieve' in technical and scientific literature. Here, it is used with precision to describe the attainment of specific parameters or conditions. 'The engine must achieve a temperature of 500 degrees to operate efficiently' or 'The experiment achieved a 99% success rate.' In these cases, 'achieve' is less about 'dreams' and more about 'specifications'. It denotes the reaching of a required state. This versatility—from the emotional to the technical—is why 'achieve' is such a vital word to know.

Daily Life: Even in casual settings, like gaming, players 'achieve' levels or unlock 'achievements', which are digital badges of success.

I finally achieved a high score on that game I've been playing all week!

Whether you are reading a self-help book, listening to a business podcast, watching the news, or playing a video game, 'achieve' is there to mark the moment of success. It is a word that celebrates the human ability to set a target and hit it. By paying attention to these different contexts, you can see how 'achieve' functions as a bridge between effort and result across all areas of life.

To achieve a lasting impact, one must be consistent in their efforts over a long period of time.

What is one goal you have achieved recently that you are particularly proud of?

While achieve is a relatively straightforward verb, learners often make specific errors in its usage, spelling, and collocation. One of the most frequent mistakes is confusing 'achieve' with 'attain' or 'reach'. While they are similar, 'achieve' almost always implies effort and the completion of a task. You 'reach' a destination (like a city), but you 'achieve' a goal. You 'attain' a certain age or status, but you 'achieve' a result. Using 'achieve' for a physical location (e.g., 'I achieved London') is incorrect.

Mistake 1: Wrong Object: Incorrect: 'I achieved the bus station.' Correct: 'I reached the bus station.' Reason: 'Achieve' is for goals, not physical locations.

Another common error is the spelling. The 'i before e' rule applies here (i before e except after c), which can be confusing because the 'ch' sound might make people think of 'c'. It is spelled A-C-H-I-E-V-E. Many learners accidentally swap the 'i' and 'e' (acheive). Remembering the word 'chief' can help, as 'achieve' contains the same 'ie' sequence and a similar sound. Another spelling mistake is forgetting the final 'e' in the base form.

Incorrect: He finally acheived his dream. Correct: He finally achieved his dream.

Learners also struggle with the difference between 'achieve' and 'manage'. 'Manage' is often followed by 'to' and an infinitive verb (e.g., 'I managed to finish'), while 'achieve' is usually followed by a noun (e.g., 'I achieved success'). While you can say 'I achieved my goal of finishing,' it is more common to use 'achieve' with a direct noun object. Saying 'I achieved to finish' is grammatically incorrect. Always pair 'achieve' with what you got, not what you did.

Mistake 2: Preposition Overuse: Incorrect: 'She achieved at her goals.' Correct: 'She achieved her goals.' Reason: 'Achieve' is a transitive verb and does not need 'at'.

Overusing the word is another pitfall. While 'achieve' is a great word, using it for every small task can sound unnatural or overly dramatic. For example, 'I achieved washing the dishes' sounds strange. In such cases, 'finished' or 'did' is much better. 'Achieve' should be reserved for things that require some level of effort, planning, or significance. If the task is mundane or routine, 'achieve' is likely too 'heavy' a word to use.

Incorrect: I achieved buying some milk. Correct: I bought some milk.

Finally, there is the confusion between the verb 'achieve' and the noun 'achievement'. Learners sometimes use the noun where the verb is needed. For example, 'I want to achievement my goals' is incorrect. You must use the verb: 'I want to achieve my goals.' Conversely, 'That was a great achieve' is wrong; it should be 'That was a great achievement.' Keeping the parts of speech clear is essential for grammatical accuracy.

Mistake 3: Confusion with 'Succeed': Incorrect: 'I achieved in the exam.' Correct: 'I succeeded in the exam' or 'I achieved a good grade on the exam.'

Many students achieve their best results when they study in groups rather than alone.

By avoiding these common traps—spelling errors, wrong objects, incorrect prepositions, and part-of-speech confusion—you will be able to use 'achieve' with the confidence and precision of a native speaker. It is a word that conveys strength and success, so using it correctly is an achievement in itself!

Don't let the fear of making mistakes stop you from trying to achieve something great.

With enough practice, you will achieve fluency in English.

While achieve is a fantastic word, variety is the spice of life—and of good writing. Depending on the context, you might want to use a synonym to avoid repetition or to convey a slightly different nuance. The most common alternatives are 'accomplish', 'attain', 'reach', and 'realize'. Each of these has its own specific 'flavor' and typical usage patterns.

Achieve vs. Accomplish: 'Accomplish' is very similar but often focuses more on the completion of a specific task or mission. 'We accomplished our mission' sounds slightly more tactical than 'We achieved our mission'.

'Attain' is often used for reaching a certain level, state, or age. It feels a bit more formal and passive than 'achieve'. For example, 'He attained the rank of captain' or 'The temperature attained 100 degrees.' While you can 'attain a goal', 'achieve a goal' is much more common. 'Attain' is also frequently used for things that are difficult to get, like 'attaining enlightenment' or 'attaining a high standard of living'.

She worked tirelessly to attain a position of influence within the company.

'Reach' is the most versatile and casual of the group. It can be used for physical destinations ('reach the summit'), numerical values ('reach 50%'), or abstract goals ('reach an agreement'). It doesn't always imply the same level of hard work as 'achieve'. If you 'reach' a conclusion, it might just be the logical end of a thought process, whereas 'achieving' a conclusion might imply a long and difficult investigation.

Achieve vs. Realize: In the context of success, 'realize' means to make something real. 'He realized his potential' means he actually did what he was capable of doing. It's often used with 'dreams' or 'ambitions'.

Another interesting alternative is 'fulfill'. This is used when you achieve something that was expected, promised, or desired. 'He fulfilled his duties' or 'She fulfilled her dream'. It carries a sense of satisfaction and completion. 'Execute' is used in more technical or business contexts, meaning to carry out a plan successfully. 'The team executed the strategy perfectly' implies they did exactly what they planned to do, thereby achieving their goal.

It is one thing to have a plan, but another thing entirely to execute it and achieve the desired results.

For more informal contexts, you might use 'pull off' or 'get'. 'I can't believe he pulled off that win!' implies achieving something difficult or unlikely. 'I got what I wanted' is very simple and direct. In academic writing, you might see 'secure' or 'obtain'. 'The researchers secured a grant' means they achieved the goal of getting funding. 'Obtain' is a very formal way to say 'get' or 'achieve' a result.

Comparison Table

Achieve: High effort, significant goal.
Accomplish: Focus on finishing a task.
Attain: Reaching a level or state.
Reach: Arriving at a point (physical or abstract).

By diversifying your vocabulary, you can achieve a more sophisticated and precise style of communication.

Understanding these alternatives allows you to choose the word that fits your specific situation perfectly. Whether you are writing a formal report, a personal essay, or just chatting with a friend, knowing when to use 'achieve' and when to swap it for 'attain' or 'pull off' will make your English sound more natural and expressive.

What is the most difficult task you have ever accomplished?

We hope to reach a decision by the end of the meeting.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

The 'chef' in the original French phrase is the same 'chef' we use for a head cook today! Both come from the Latin word 'caput', meaning 'head'. So, to achieve something is literally to 'bring it to a head'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /əˈtʃiːv/

US /əˈtʃiv/

The stress is on the second syllable: uh-CHIEVE.

Rime avec

believe receive conceive perceive leave sleeve weave grieve relieve

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'ie' as 'eye'
Forgetting the 'v' sound at the end
Putting stress on the first syllable
Confusing the 'ch' with a 'sh' sound
Adding an extra vowel at the end

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Common in many texts, easy to recognize.

Écriture 3/5

Spelling 'ie' can be tricky for some.

Expression orale 2/5

Simple pronunciation once the stress is learned.

Écoute 2/5

Clear 'ch' sound makes it easy to hear.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

goal work finish success try

Apprends ensuite

attain accomplish milestone objective persevere

Avancé

attainment meritocracy self-actualization efficacy surmount

Grammaire à connaître

Transitive Verbs

You must achieve *something* (e.g., success).

Infinitive of Purpose

I study hard *to achieve* my dreams.

Passive Voice

The goal *was achieved* by the team.

Gerund as Subject

*Achieving* success takes time.

Present Perfect for Experience

I *have achieved* many things in my life.

Exemples par niveau

I want to achieve my goals.

Je veux atteindre mes objectifs.

Simple present tense.

She worked hard to achieve a good grade.

Elle a travaillé dur pour obtenir une bonne note.

Infinitive of purpose.

We can achieve anything together.

Nous pouvons tout accomplir ensemble.

Modal verb 'can' + base form.

He achieved his dream of buying a bike.

Il a réalisé son rêve d'acheter un vélo.

Past simple tense.

They want to achieve success in school.

Ils veulent réussir à l'école.

Want + to + infinitive.

Did you achieve your target today?

As-tu atteint ton objectif aujourd'hui ?

Interrogative past simple.

I will achieve my plans.

Je vais réaliser mes projets.

Future with 'will'.

It is good to achieve small things.

C'est bien d'accomplir de petites choses.

It is + adjective + to + infinitive.

The team achieved a great victory yesterday.

L'équipe a remporté une grande victoire hier.

Past simple with a time expression.

How can I achieve a better score in English?

Comment puis-je obtenir un meilleur score en anglais ?

Wh- question with modal 'can'.

She is achieving her potential at work.

Elle réalise son potentiel au travail.

Present continuous tense.

We achieved our sales target for the month.

Nous avons atteint notre objectif de vente pour le mois.

Past simple with a direct object.

It is difficult to achieve a balance in life.

Il est difficile de trouver un équilibre dans la vie.

Adjective + to-infinitive.

He achieved fame through his music.

Il a accédé à la célébrité grâce à sa musique.

Achieve + noun + through + noun.

They hope to achieve a peaceful solution.

Ils espèrent parvenir à une solution pacifique.

Hope + to + infinitive.

You must work hard to achieve your aims.

Tu dois travailler dur pour atteindre tes objectifs.

Must + base form + to-infinitive.

The company achieved record profits this year.

L'entreprise a réalisé des bénéfices records cette année.

Achieve + compound noun.

She has achieved a lot since she joined the company.

Elle a accompli beaucoup de choses depuis qu'elle a rejoint l'entreprise.

Present perfect tense.

It took many years to achieve this level of skill.

Il a fallu de nombreuses années pour atteindre ce niveau de compétence.

It took + time + to-infinitive.

We must achieve a consensus before we move forward.

Nous devons parvenir à un consensus avant d'aller de l'avant.

Achieve + abstract noun.

He finally achieved his goal of running a marathon.

Il a enfin atteint son objectif de courir un marathon.

Adverb 'finally' + past simple.

The researchers achieved a major breakthrough in medicine.

Les chercheurs ont réalisé une percée majeure en médecine.

Achieve + adjective + noun.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of the project?

Qu'espérez-vous accomplir d'ici la fin du projet ?

Wh- question with 'hope to achieve'.

She consistently achieves the highest marks in her class.

Elle obtient systématiquement les meilleures notes de sa classe.

Adverb 'consistently' + present simple.

The desired results were achieved through careful planning.

Les résultats souhaités ont été obtenus grâce à une planification minutieuse.

Passive voice.

He failed to achieve his objectives despite his best efforts.

Il n'a pas réussi à atteindre ses objectifs malgré ses meilleurs efforts.

Fail + to + infinitive.

To achieve greatness, one must be willing to take risks.

Pour atteindre la grandeur, il faut être prêt à prendre des risques.

Infinitive phrase as a modifier.

The organization aims to achieve sustainable growth over the next decade.

L'organisation vise à atteindre une croissance durable au cours de la prochaine décennie.

Aim + to + infinitive.

She has achieved a remarkable degree of success in her career.

Elle a atteint un degré de réussite remarquable dans sa carrière.

Present perfect + complex noun phrase.

They are working hard to achieve a more equitable society.

Ils travaillent dur pour parvenir à une société plus équitable.

Present continuous + to-infinitive.

The experiment achieved its purpose of proving the theory.

L'expérience a atteint son but de prouver la théorie.

Achieve + possessive + noun.

How can we achieve a better work-life balance in this modern age?

Comment pouvons-nous atteindre un meilleur équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée à l'époque moderne ?

Modal question with complex object.

The treaty was designed to achieve a lasting peace in the region.

Le traité a été conçu pour instaurer une paix durable dans la région.

Passive voice + infinitive of purpose.

He has achieved a level of mastery that few can hope to emulate.

Il a atteint un niveau de maîtrise que peu de gens peuvent espérer égaler.

Present perfect + relative clause.

Achieving social justice requires more than just good intentions.

L'instauration de la justice sociale exige plus que de simples bonnes intentions.

Gerund as subject.

The company's failure to achieve its targets led to a restructuring.

L'incapacité de l'entreprise à atteindre ses objectifs a entraîné une restructuration.

Noun phrase with 'failure to achieve'.

She achieved her goals through a combination of grit and luck.

Elle a atteint ses objectifs grâce à une combinaison de courage et de chance.

Achieve + through + noun phrase.

The film achieves a haunting atmosphere through its use of lighting.

Le film parvient à créer une atmosphère obsédante grâce à l'utilisation de l'éclairage.

Achieve + abstract noun (artistic context).

It is through education that we achieve our full potential as human beings.

C'est par l'éducation que nous réalisons notre plein potentiel en tant qu'êtres humains.

Cleft sentence structure.

The project achieved its milestones despite significant budgetary constraints.

Le projet a franchi ses étapes importantes malgré d'importantes contraintes budgétaires.

Achieve + milestones + despite + noun phrase.

The philosophical inquiry sought to achieve a deeper understanding of existence.

L'enquête philosophique cherchait à parvenir à une compréhension plus profonde de l'existence.

Formal academic register.

Whether such an ambitious goal can ever be achieved remains to be seen.

Reste à savoir si un objectif aussi ambitieux pourra un jour être atteint.

Noun clause as subject + passive voice.

He achieved a state of transcendence through years of meditation.

Il a atteint un état de transcendance grâce à des années de méditation.

Achieve + state of + noun.

The novelist achieves a rare synthesis of humor and tragedy.

Le romancier parvient à une rare synthèse de l'humour et de la tragédie.

Literary analysis register.

The policy failed to achieve the desired outcomes, necessitating a pivot.

La politique n'a pas permis d'obtenir les résultats escomptés, ce qui a nécessité un pivotement.

Participle clause for consequence.

Achieving a truly meritocratic society is an ongoing challenge.

Parvenir à une société véritablement méritocratique est un défi permanent.

Gerund subject + complex adjective.

The architect achieved a perfect harmony between the building and its surroundings.

L'architecte a atteint une harmonie parfaite entre le bâtiment et son environnement.

Achieve + harmony + between/and.

Rarely has such a feat been achieved in the history of human exploration.

Rarement un tel exploit a été accompli dans l'histoire de l'exploration humaine.

Synonymes

accomplish attain reach fulfill realize complete

Antonymes

fail lose abandon

Collocations courantes

achieve a goal

achieve success

achieve a target

achieve a breakthrough

achieve a balance

achieve a result

achieve independence

achieve greatness

achieve consensus

achieve a milestone

Phrases Courantes

achieve the impossible

hard to achieve

strive to achieve

fail to achieve

help someone achieve

easy to achieve

achieve one's ends

achieve a dream

achieve a level

achieve fame

Souvent confondu avec

achieve vs attain

Attain is more formal and often used for levels or ages.

achieve vs reach

Reach can be used for physical locations; achieve cannot.

achieve vs accomplish

Accomplish focuses more on finishing a specific task.

Expressions idiomatiques

"achieve one's heart's desire"

To get exactly what you want most in life.

She finally achieved her heart's desire.

Literary

"achieve a place in the sun"

To reach a position of success or influence.

The company has achieved its place in the sun.

Idiomatic

"achieve a meeting of minds"

To reach a complete agreement or understanding.

They achieved a meeting of minds on the contract.

Formal

"achieve the upper hand"

To gain a position of advantage or control.

The team achieved the upper hand in the second half.

Competitive

"achieve a clean sweep"

To win everything possible in a competition.

They achieved a clean sweep of the awards.

Informal

"achieve a breakthrough"

To make a sudden and important discovery or success.

The researchers achieved a breakthrough.

Professional

"achieve a new high"

To reach a record level of success or value.

Stock prices achieved a new high today.

Financial

"achieve the impossible dream"

To succeed in something extremely difficult.

He achieved the impossible dream of space travel.

Motivational

"achieve a state of grace"

To reach a condition of peace or divine favor.

He felt he had achieved a state of grace.

Religious/Literary

"achieve a balance of power"

To reach a state where no single group has too much control.

The treaty achieved a balance of power.

Political

Facile à confondre

achieve vs attain

Both mean reaching a goal.

Attain is more about reaching a state or level, while achieve is about the effort to finish a task.

He attained the age of 80, but he achieved his dream of writing a book.

achieve vs reach

Both involve arriving at a point.

Reach is used for physical places and simple points; achieve is for goals requiring effort.

We reached the mountain, and then we achieved the summit.

achieve vs accomplish

Very similar meanings.

Accomplish is often used for completing a specific mission or duty.

I accomplished my chores, but I achieved my fitness goals.

achieve vs succeed

Both relate to success.

Succeed is an intransitive verb (succeed in something); achieve is transitive (achieve something).

I succeeded in the test because I achieved a high score.

achieve vs realize

Both mean making something happen.

Realize often refers to making a dream or potential become real.

She realized her potential when she achieved the promotion.

Structures de phrases

I want to achieve [noun].

I want to achieve my goals.

She achieved [noun] through [noun].

She achieved success through hard work.

They have achieved [noun] since [time].

They have achieved a lot since last year.

[Noun] was achieved by [agent].

The result was achieved by the scientists.

Achieving [noun] requires [noun].

Achieving balance requires discipline.

Rarely has [noun] been achieved.

Rarely has such a goal been achieved.

It is difficult to achieve [noun].

It is difficult to achieve a consensus.

How can we achieve [noun]?

How can we achieve a better score?

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very common in both written and spoken English.

Erreurs courantes

acheive → achieve
The 'i' comes before the 'e'.
achieve to finish → achieve the goal of finishing
Achieve must be followed by a noun, not a 'to' infinitive.
achieve a place → reach a place
Achieve is for abstract goals, not physical locations.
I achieved in the exam → I achieved a good grade
Achieve is transitive; it needs a direct object.
a great achieve → a great achievement
Use the noun form for the result, not the verb.

Astuces

The 'IE' Rule

Remember 'i before e' in achieve. Think of a 'Chief' achieving something.

Use with Nouns

Always follow 'achieve' with a noun like goal, success, or result.

Professionalism

Use 'achieve' on your resume to show you are a results-oriented person.

No 'To' After

Don't say 'achieve to do'. Say 'achieve a result' or 'manage to do'.

Effort Matters

Only use 'achieve' when there was some effort involved in the process.

Stress the End

Make sure to emphasize the 'CHIEVE' part of the word when speaking.

Passive Voice

Use 'was achieved' in reports to sound more objective and formal.

Key Words

Listen for 'achieve' in news reports about breakthroughs or agreements.

Visual Peak

Visualize a flag on a mountain top to remember the meaning of achieve.

Collocations

Learn 'achieve a goal' as a single phrase; it is the most common use.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

To aCHIEve, you must be the CHIEF of your own goals. (Both words have 'chie' and involve leadership and success.)

Association visuelle

Imagine a person standing at the top of a mountain (the 'head' or 'chef' of the mountain) holding a flag. This represents reaching the peak of an effort.

Word Web

Goal Success Effort Result Work Dream Target Win

Défi

Write down three things you want to achieve this week. Use the word 'achieve' in a sentence for each one.

Origine du mot

The word 'achieve' comes from the Old French word 'achever', which means 'to bring to an end' or 'to finish'. This French word was formed from the phrase 'a chef', meaning 'to a head' or 'to a point'.

Sens originel : To bring something to a head or to a conclusion.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > French > English

Contexte culturel

Be aware that focusing too much on 'achieving' can sometimes be seen as stressful or overly competitive in certain social contexts.

The word is very common in motivational speeches and corporate mission statements.

'Achieve the Impossible' (common motivational slogan) 'The Achievement of Love' (literary theme) Xbox/PlayStation 'Achievements' (gaming)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Education

achieve a grade
achieve a degree
achieve potential
academic achievement

Business

achieve targets
achieve profits
achieve growth
achieve a breakthrough

Sports

achieve a record
achieve victory
achieve a goal
achieve fitness

Personal Growth

achieve a dream
achieve balance
achieve happiness
achieve independence

Science

achieve a result
achieve stability
achieve a consensus
achieve a discovery

Amorces de conversation

"What is the biggest goal you want to achieve this year?"

"Do you think it is more important to achieve success or to be happy?"

"How do you feel when you finally achieve something difficult?"

"What have you achieved recently that you are proud of?"

"Who is someone you admire for what they have achieved?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time you worked hard to achieve a goal. What did you learn?

List three things you want to achieve in the next five years and how you will do it.

Describe the feeling of achieving something you thought was impossible.

How does achieving your goals change the way you see yourself?

What is the difference between achieving something for yourself and achieving it for others?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, 'achieve' is used for goals, results, or levels. You cannot achieve a person. You might 'win someone over' or 'reach someone', but not achieve them.

Usually, yes. It implies effort. For small things, use 'finish' or 'do'. However, in gaming, 'achievements' can be for small tasks.

'Get' is very general and can be passive (you can get a cold). 'Achieve' is active and implies you worked for it.

Yes, it follows the standard pattern: achieve, achieved, achieved.

No, 'achieve' is followed by a noun. You should say 'I achieved my goal of running' or 'I managed to run'.

Accomplish, attain, reach, and realize are the most common synonyms.

The noun form is 'achievement'.

Yes, very often in formal writing, e.g., 'The targets were achieved.'

Rarely. It is almost always used for positive results. You wouldn't say 'I achieved a failure'.

An overachiever is someone who does even better than expected or works much harder than others.