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A2 adjective #504 le plus courant 6 min de lecture

successful

Top 504

At the A1 level, 'successful' is a word you use to describe winning or doing something well. You might use it to talk about a game, a simple task, or a party. It is a 'happy' word that shows something went the way you wanted. For example, 'The party was successful' means everyone had fun. At this level, you don't need to worry about complex meanings; just think of it as 'it worked' or 'it was good'. You use it to describe things that are finished and turned out well. It is an important word for giving positive feedback to friends and family.

At the A2 level, you start using 'successful' to describe people and their jobs. You can say 'She is a successful doctor' or 'He is a successful student'. You understand that 'successful' means more than just 'good'; it means achieving a goal. You can use it in sentences with 'very' or 'not'. You also begin to see it in simple business contexts, like a 'successful shop'. You are learning to distinguish between the noun 'success' and the adjective 'successful', though you might still make mistakes sometimes. This word helps you describe the world around you in more detail.

At the B1 level, you use 'successful' to describe processes and plans. You can talk about a 'successful attempt' or a 'successful strategy'. You understand that success can be measured in different ways—not just by money, but by happiness or reaching a personal milestone. You start using adverbs like 'highly' or 'moderately' to modify the word. You can also use the word in the negative form 'unsuccessful' to describe failures in a polite way. Your vocabulary is expanding to include related words like 'achievement' and 'accomplishment', and you can explain why something was successful using 'because' and 'due to'.

At the B2 level, you use 'successful' with more nuance. You can discuss the factors that lead to a 'successful outcome' in complex situations, such as politics or social issues. You are comfortable using the word in formal reports and essays. You understand idiomatic expressions like 'the key to being successful' or 'a recipe for a successful business'. You can compare 'successful' with synonyms like 'prosperous' or 'effective' and choose the best one for the situation. You also recognize that 'successful' can be subjective—what is successful for one person might not be for another. Your use of the word is fluent and natural.

At the C1 level, you use 'successful' to explore abstract concepts. You might write about the 'successful integration of immigrants' or the 'successful implementation of a new economic theory'. You are aware of the subtle connotations of the word and can use it ironically or critically if needed. You can use a wide range of collocations and rare synonyms. You understand the historical and cultural weight of the word 'successful' in different societies. Your sentence structures are complex, and you can use 'successful' in various grammatical positions without effort. You can also discuss the psychological impact of being successful.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'successful'. You can use it to deconstruct societal definitions of success. You might use it in literary or highly technical contexts where precision is paramount. You can play with the word in puns or sophisticated metaphors. You understand the etymological roots and how they influence modern usage. Whether you are writing a philosophical treatise or a high-level business strategy, you use 'successful' and its derivatives with absolute precision and stylistic flair. You can articulate the difference between 'successful' and 'efficacious' in a way that shows deep linguistic insight.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

successful en 30 secondes

Successful is an adjective that describes achieving a goal or reaching a high status in life or career.
It is commonly used to talk about people, businesses, events, and specific actions that work well.
The word comes from the noun 'success' and is the opposite of 'unsuccessful'.
In daily English, it often refers to making money or being famous, but it can apply to any achieved aim.

The word successful is an adjective used to describe the achievement of a goal, the attainment of wealth, or the realization of a desired outcome. In its most basic sense, it marks the transition from effort to result. When we call a person successful, we often imply they have reached a high status in their career or personal life. However, the term is equally applicable to inanimate objects or events, such as a successful experiment or a successful party.

Core Achievement: This refers to reaching a specific target. For example, if you aim to bake a cake and it tastes good, the bake was successful. It is the fulfillment of an intention.
Social and Financial Status: In a broader societal context, being successful often correlates with having a high-paying job, a respected position, or significant influence within a community.
Functional Efficacy: When describing a method or a tool, successful means it worked as intended. A successful medical treatment is one that cures the patient.

After years of hard work, her business became highly successful and expanded globally.

People use this word in professional settings to evaluate performance, in personal settings to celebrate milestones, and in academic settings to describe the results of research. It is a positive, affirming word that carries a sense of completion and satisfaction. Whether you are talking about a small daily task or a lifelong ambition, 'successful' is the bridge between 'doing' and 'having done'.

The launch of the new satellite was successful, marking a new era for the space agency.

Frequency of Use: It is one of the most common adjectives in the English language, appearing frequently in news, business reports, and daily conversation.

He is a successful author with three best-selling novels.

The team had a successful season, winning almost every game.

A successful marriage requires communication and mutual respect.

Using successful correctly involves understanding its placement as an adjective. It typically precedes a noun or follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'. It is often modified by adverbs to show the degree of success, such as 'very', 'highly', 'extremely', or 'moderately'.

Attributive Use: Placed before the noun: 'A successful businessman', 'A successful attempt'. This describes the inherent quality of the person or thing.
Predicative Use: Placed after a verb: 'The project was successful.' This describes the state of the subject.

To be successful in this course, you must study every day.

When discussing people, 'successful' can be used broadly or specifically. You can say someone is 'successful in life' (broad) or 'successful in their career' (specific). When talking about tasks, it often pairs with prepositions like 'in' or 'at'. For example, 'He was successful in finding a new job.'

The company's successful marketing campaign led to a 50% increase in sales.

Negative Forms: The opposite is 'unsuccessful'. You can also use 'not successful' for a softer tone. 'The attempt was unsuccessful' sounds more formal than 'It didn't work'.

If at first you are not successful, try, try again.

She felt successful only after she helped her community.

The surgery was successful, and the patient is recovering well.

You will encounter successful in almost every domain of public life. In the corporate world, it is the benchmark for performance. CEOs talk about 'successful quarters', and entrepreneurs dream of 'successful exits'. In sports, commentators describe 'successful plays' or 'successful seasons'. In education, teachers discuss 'successful learning outcomes'.

Media and News: News reports often use the word to describe political negotiations, military operations, or scientific breakthroughs. 'The peace talks were successful' is a common headline.
Self-Help and Motivation: This is perhaps where the word is most ubiquitous. Books like 'The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People' have cemented the word in the lexicon of personal development.

The movie was so successful that they decided to make a sequel immediately.

In social media, the concept of being 'successful' is often curated through images of luxury and achievement. This has led to a cultural obsession with the word, sometimes focusing more on the appearance of success than the substance of it. However, in technical fields like medicine or engineering, the word remains strictly tied to functional results.

The successful landing of the rover on Mars was a historic moment.

Many successful people wake up early to start their day.

Even though successful is an A2 level word, it is frequently misused by learners. The most common error is confusing the word classes: success (noun), succeed (verb), and successful (adjective).

Confusing Noun and Adjective: Incorrect: 'He is a success man.' Correct: 'He is a successful man.' or 'He is a success.'
Spelling Errors: Learners often forget the double 'c' or the double 's'. Common misspellings include 'succesful' or 'sucessful'. Remember: double C, double S, single L.

It is a common mistake to say 'I want to be success' instead of 'I want to be successful'.

Another mistake is using 'successful' when 'successive' is intended. 'Successive' means following one after another (e.g., 'three successive days'), while 'successful' means achieving a goal. Using them interchangeably can lead to significant confusion in professional writing.

The successful completion of the project was a relief to everyone.

Don't say 'The party was succeed'; say 'The party was successful'.

While successful is a great all-purpose word, using alternatives can make your English sound more sophisticated and precise depending on the context.

Prosperous: Used mainly for financial success or flourishing businesses. 'A prosperous new year'.
Effective: Used when something produces the intended result. 'An effective medicine'.
Fruitful: Used for discussions or periods of time that produce many good results. 'A fruitful meeting'.
Triumphant: Used when success comes after a great struggle or competition. 'A triumphant return'.

The negotiation was fruitful, leading to a new agreement.

In informal settings, you might hear 'smashing', 'killing it', or 'on fire'. In very formal academic writing, you might see 'efficacious' or 'productive'. Choosing the right synonym depends on whether you are talking about money, effort, or the quality of the result.

He is a prosperous merchant in the city center.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

In the 1500s, you could have a 'bad success', which meant a bad result. Today, that would be a contradiction!

Guide de prononciation

UK /səkˈses.fəl/

US /səkˈses.fəl/

Second syllable (suc-CESS-ful)

Rime avec

Stressful Distressful Unsuccessful

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the first 'u' too strongly like 'soo-cessful'.
Putting the stress on the first syllable.
Forgetting the 'l' sound at the end.
Pronouncing the 'cc' as a single 's' sound.
Saying 'success-full' with a long 'u' in the last syllable.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 2/5

Easy to recognize in text as it appears frequently.

Écriture 3/5

Spelling the double 'c' and double 's' can be tricky.

Expression orale 2/5

Commonly used and easy to integrate into basic sentences.

Écoute 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most dialects.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

Good Work Win Money Goal

Apprends ensuite

Achieve Prosperous Effective Accomplish Ambition

Avancé

Efficacious Fruitful Triumphant Successive Prestige

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective Placement

A successful (adj) business (noun).

Linking Verbs

The project became (verb) successful (adj).

Adverb Modification

He is highly (adv) successful (adj).

Prepositional Phrases

Successful in (prep) his career.

Word Form Transformation

He succeeded (verb) and found success (noun).

Exemples par niveau

The party was successful.

La fête a été réussie.

Subject + was + adjective.

He is a successful player.

C'est un joueur qui réussit.

Adjective before the noun.

My cake was successful!

Mon gâteau était réussi !

Exclamatory sentence.

Was the game successful?

Le jeu a-t-il été une réussite ?

Question form.

They are successful students.

Ce sont des étudiants qui réussissent.

Plural noun.

It was a successful day.

C'était une journée réussie.

Describing a period of time.

The test was successful.

Le test a été réussi.

Simple past tense.

She is very successful.

Elle réussit très bien.

Using 'very' as an intensifier.

She is a successful doctor in London.

Elle est un médecin renommé à Londres.

Identifying a profession.

The new shop is very successful.

Le nouveau magasin marche très bien.

Describing a business.

He wants to be a successful businessman.

Il veut être un homme d'affaires prospère.

Using 'want to be'.

Was your meeting successful?

Votre réunion s'est-elle bien passée ?

Inquiring about an event.

They had a successful trip to Italy.

Ils ont fait un voyage réussi en Italie.

Using 'had' with an adjective-noun phrase.

The movie was not successful at the cinema.

Le film n'a pas eu de succès au cinéma.

Negative form.

Is he a successful artist?

Est-il un artiste qui a du succès ?

Interrogative form.

The project became successful after a month.

Le projet est devenu une réussite après un mois.

Using the linking verb 'become'.

The mission was successful despite the difficult weather.

La mission a été couronnée de succès malgré le mauvais temps.

Using 'despite' to show contrast.

He made a successful attempt to climb the mountain.

Il a réussi sa tentative d'ascension de la montagne.

Collocation: 'successful attempt'.

The company launched a successful marketing campaign.

L'entreprise a lancé une campagne de marketing réussie.

Describing a professional action.

She is successful because she works very hard.

Elle réussit parce qu'elle travaille très dur.

Using 'because' to explain success.

A successful career requires a lot of patience.

Une carrière réussie demande beaucoup de patience.

General statement about success.

The surgery was successful, and he is now home.

L'opération a réussi et il est maintenant chez lui.

Compound sentence.

How can we make this project more successful?

Comment pouvons-nous rendre ce projet plus fructueux ?

Comparative form 'more successful'.

It was a successful year for the local school.

Ce fut une année fructueuse pour l'école locale.

Describing a period of time for an institution.

The successful implementation of the policy led to economic growth.

La mise en œuvre réussie de la politique a conduit à la croissance économique.

Formal noun phrase 'successful implementation'.

He is widely regarded as a successful entrepreneur.

Il est largement considéré comme un entrepreneur prospère.

Using the passive voice 'is regarded as'.

The experiment was successful in proving the hypothesis.

L'expérience a réussi à prouver l'hypothèse.

Using 'successful in' + gerund.

They managed to have a successful negotiation with the union.

Ils ont réussi à mener une négociation fructueuse avec le syndicat.

Using 'managed to'.

What defines a successful life in the 21st century?

Qu'est-ce qui définit une vie réussie au 21ème siècle ?

Philosophical question.

The book provides a successful blend of humor and drama.

Le livre offre un mélange réussi d'humour et de drame.

Describing artistic quality.

She was successful at balancing her work and family life.

Elle a réussi à équilibrer sa vie professionnelle et sa vie familiale.

Using 'successful at' + gerund.

The team's successful defense won them the championship.

La défense réussie de l'équipe leur a fait gagner le championnat.

Possessive noun phrase.

A successful outcome was predicated on meticulous planning.

Un résultat positif reposait sur une planification méticuleuse.

Advanced vocabulary 'predicated on'.

The artist's successful transition to digital media surprised many.

La transition réussie de l'artiste vers les médias numériques en a surpris plus d'un.

Complex subject phrase.

The program was successful in mitigating the effects of the crisis.

Le programme a réussi à atténuer les effets de la crise.

Formal verb 'mitigating'.

Is a successful career necessarily a fulfilling one?

Une carrière réussie est-elle nécessairement épanouissante ?

Adverbial modification 'necessarily'.

The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional leadership skills.

Le candidat retenu fera preuve de qualités de leadership exceptionnelles.

Future tense in a formal context.

The city's successful bid for the Olympics brought in millions.

La candidature réussie de la ville pour les JO a rapporté des millions.

Specific noun 'bid'.

He remains one of the most successful architects of his generation.

Il reste l'un des architectes les plus accomplis de sa génération.

Superlative construction.

The successful integration of the new software took several months.

L'intégration réussie du nouveau logiciel a pris plusieurs mois.

Technical context.

The ephemeral nature of a successful career in the arts can be daunting.

La nature éphémère d'une carrière réussie dans les arts peut être intimidante.

Abstract and literary tone.

The successful subversion of traditional tropes made the novel a masterpiece.

La subversion réussie des tropes traditionnels a fait du roman un chef-d'œuvre.

Academic literary criticism.

One must question whether a successful economy justifies social inequality.

Il faut se demander si une économie prospère justifie l'inégalité sociale.

Complex conditional structure.

The successful synthesis of these two chemicals was a breakthrough.

La synthèse réussie de ces deux produits chimiques a été une percée.

Scientific precision.

Her successful tenure as CEO was marked by radical transparency.

Son mandat réussi en tant que PDG a été marqué par une transparence radicale.

High-level professional vocabulary.

The successful prosecution of the case relied on forensic evidence.

La poursuite réussie de l'affaire reposait sur des preuves médico-légales.

Legal terminology.

A successful society is one that cares for its most vulnerable members.

Une société réussie est celle qui prend soin de ses membres les plus vulnérables.

Defining a concept.

The successful orchestration of the event required thousands of staff.

L'orchestration réussie de l'événement a nécessité des milliers d'employés.

Metaphorical use of 'orchestration'.

Synonymes

prosperous flourishing triumphant effective fruitful productive

Antonymes

unsuccessful failed losing

Collocations courantes

Highly successful

Successful career

Successful attempt

Successful candidate

Successful outcome

Successful business

Wildly successful

Moderately successful

Successful marriage

Successful operation

Phrases Courantes

Be successful in

A successful formula

Proven successful

Successful track record

Successful conclusion

Successful bid

Successful applicant

Successful transition

Successful integration

Successful launch

Souvent confondu avec

successful vs Successive

Means following in order (1, 2, 3). Successful means achieving a goal.

successful vs Success

Success is the noun (the thing). Successful is the adjective (describing the thing).

successful vs Succeed

Succeed is the verb (the action). Successful is the adjective.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Dress for success"

To wear clothes that make you look professional and successful.

If you want the promotion, you need to dress for success.

Informal

"The key to success"

The most important factor in achieving a goal.

Hard work is the key to success.

Neutral

"Overnight success"

Someone who becomes successful very quickly.

The singer became an overnight success after her video went viral.

Informal

"Sweet smell of success"

The pleasant feeling of having achieved something.

After winning the award, he finally tasted the sweet smell of success.

Literary

"Victim of your own success"

When being successful causes new problems.

The restaurant was so successful that they couldn't handle all the customers.

Neutral

"Roaring success"

A very great or complete success.

The school play was a roaring success.

Informal

"Success breeds success"

When one success leads to more successes.

Now that he has won one race, he feels he can win them all; success breeds success.

Neutral

"Recipe for success"

A set of conditions that will likely lead to success.

Good talent and hard work are a recipe for success.

Neutral

"Success has many fathers"

Many people claim credit for a success, but no one wants to be responsible for failure.

When the project worked, everyone said it was their idea; success has many fathers.

Literary

"Nothing succeeds like success"

Success leads to more opportunities and more success.

After her first book sold well, publishers were fighting for her next one; nothing succeeds like success.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

successful vs Successive

Similar spelling and root.

Successive refers to sequence, while successful refers to achievement.

He had three successful years (he did well) vs. He had three successive years (one after another).

successful vs Effective

Both mean something worked.

Effective means it produced the result. Successful often implies a higher level of achievement or status.

The medicine was effective.

successful vs Productive

Both are positive results of work.

Productive means you did a lot of work. Successful means the work reached its goal.

I had a productive day, but the project wasn't successful.

successful vs Prosperous

Both relate to doing well.

Prosperous is almost always about money and wealth. Successful can be about anything.

A prosperous businessman.

successful vs Triumphant

Both mean winning.

Triumphant is more emotional and implies a big victory after a struggle.

A triumphant return.

Structures de phrases

The [Noun] was successful.

The party was successful.

He/She is a successful [Job].

She is a successful doctor.

They were successful in [Gerund].

They were successful in finding a house.

It was a highly successful [Noun].

It was a highly successful campaign.

The successful [Noun] of [Noun]...

The successful implementation of the plan...

[Noun] is predicated on a successful [Noun].

Growth is predicated on a successful strategy.

If [Subject] is successful, then...

If the test is successful, then we can start.

I want to be successful.

I want to be successful in the future.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Top 1000 most common words in English.

Erreurs courantes

He is a success man. → He is a successful man.
You must use the adjective form 'successful' to describe the noun 'man'.
I hope to be success. → I hope to be successful.
After the verb 'to be', you usually need an adjective to describe the subject.
The mission was succesful. → The mission was successful.
The word requires two 's' characters before the 'ful' suffix.
They had three successful days of rain. → They had three successive days of rain.
If you mean 'one after another', use 'successive'. 'Successful' doesn't make sense here.
She is very success in her job. → She is very successful in her job.
The adverb 'very' modifies the adjective 'successful', not the noun 'success'.

Astuces

The Double-Double Rule

Always remember that 'successful' has two Cs and two Ss. It is one of the most misspelled words for English learners.

Beyond 'Good'

Instead of saying a project was 'good', say it was 'successful' to sound more professional and specific.

Adjective vs Noun

Use 'successful' to describe a person (He is successful) and 'success' to describe the concept (He found success).

Emphasis

When you want to emphasize how well something went, use 'highly successful'. It's a very common native collocation.

Resume Power

Use 'successful' in your resume to highlight achievements. For example: 'Successful management of a $1M budget'.

Cultural Nuance

Be aware that 'success' is defined differently in different cultures. In some places, it's about the group, not the individual.

Fast Speech

In fast speech, the 'u' in the first syllable almost disappears. It sounds like 's'k-SES-ful'.

Variety

If you use 'successful' in one sentence, try 'fruitful' or 'effective' in the next to keep your writing interesting.

Goal Oriented

Always ask: 'What was the goal?' If the goal was met, the word 'successful' is appropriate.

Compliments

Telling someone 'You are very successful' is a high compliment in English-speaking professional cultures.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of a 'Success Full' person. They are FULL of success, so they are SUCCESSFUL.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person standing on top of a mountain holding a flag. This represents reaching the peak of success.

Word Web

Goal Money Win Job Happy Work Finish Famous

Défi

Try to use the word 'successful' three times today: once for a person, once for a task, and once for a feeling.

Origine du mot

The word 'successful' comes from the noun 'success', which entered English in the mid-16th century. It originates from the Latin 'successus', meaning 'an advance, a coming after, a happy outcome'.

Sens originel : The original meaning was simply 'the result of an action', whether good or bad. Over time, it shifted to mean only a 'good' result.

Indo-European -> Italic -> Latin -> French -> English

Contexte culturel

Be careful when calling someone 'unsuccessful', as it can be very insulting. Use 'hasn't reached their goals yet' instead.

In the US and UK, 'successful' is often the first word used to describe a high-achieving professional.

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People (Book) Succession (TV Show) How to be Successful (Common article title)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Business

Successful quarter
Successful launch
Successful negotiation
Successful entrepreneur

Education

Successful student
Successful exam
Successful application
Successful learning

Personal Life

Successful marriage
Successful diet
Successful hobby
Successful move

Sports

Successful season
Successful play
Successful career
Successful comeback

Science

Successful experiment
Successful trial
Successful discovery
Successful mission

Amorces de conversation

"What is the most successful thing you have done this week?"

"Do you think a successful person is always a happy person?"

"Who is the most successful person you know personally?"

"What are the three keys to being successful in your job?"

"Was your last vacation successful? Why or why not?"

Sujets d'écriture

Write about a time you were successful at something difficult. How did you feel?

Define what a 'successful life' looks like to you without mentioning money.

Is it more important to be successful or to be kind? Explain your answer.

What steps are you taking to be successful in learning English?

Describe a successful person you admire. What qualities do they have?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

It is almost always positive. It describes reaching a goal or doing something well.

S-U-C-C-E-S-S-F-U-L. Remember: double C, double S, and only one L at the end.

No, you should say 'I am successful' (adjective) or 'I am a success' (noun).

The most common opposite is 'unsuccessful'. You can also say 'failed' or 'not successful'.

Both! You can have a successful person, a successful business, or a successful experiment.

Highly, very, extremely, moderately, and fairly are very common.

No. While it often implies wealth in business, it can also mean achieving any goal, like a successful diet or a successful rescue.

Successful means achieving a goal. Successive means following one after another in a line.

No, 'successfully' is an adverb used to describe an action: 'He successfully completed the task'.

Use it to describe your past projects: 'I led a successful team' or 'I had a successful year meeting all my targets'.