Explanation at your level:
You use accomplish when you finish a job. If you have a goal, like learning a new word, and you do it, you accomplish your goal. It makes you feel happy and proud.
When you work hard on something and finish it, you accomplish it. For example, if you study for a test and get an A, you have accomplished your goal. It is a good word to use for big tasks.
Accomplish is used to describe completing tasks that require effort. It is more formal than saying 'I finished.' You can accomplish a lot in one day if you plan carefully. It implies success after hard work.
Using accomplish shows you have achieved a specific objective. It is often used in professional contexts, such as 'Our team accomplished the project objectives.' It suggests competence and perseverance rather than just simple completion.
In advanced English, accomplish is often used to denote the realization of complex aims. It carries a nuance of overcoming obstacles. Writers use it to emphasize that the result was not guaranteed, but was earned through strategy and persistent effort.
At the mastery level, accomplish can be used in more abstract or literary senses, such as 'accomplishing a change in policy.' It reflects a deep sense of agency and impact. It is distinct from 'achieve' in that 'accomplish' focuses heavily on the process of completion.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to successfully finish a task.
- Requires effort and perseverance.
- Used in professional and personal contexts.
- Noun form is accomplishment.
When you accomplish something, you aren't just finishing a chore; you are marking the successful conclusion of a challenge. It is a word that carries a sense of pride and satisfaction.
Think of it as the difference between just 'doing' something and 'mastering' it. Whether you accomplish a difficult project at work or accomplish your fitness goals, the word highlights the effort you put in to reach that finish line.
The word accomplish has a fascinating journey through time. It traces its roots back to the Old French word acomplir, which itself came from the Latin ad- (to) and complere (to fill up or complete).
Essentially, to accomplish is to 'fill up' a task until it is entirely finished. It entered the English language in the 15th century and has kept its core meaning of 'completion' ever since. It shares a family tree with words like 'complete' and 'complement'.
You will often hear accomplish used in professional and academic settings. It sounds a bit more formal than 'finish' or 'do'.
Common phrases include accomplish a goal, accomplish a task, or accomplish a mission. It is a versatile verb that fits perfectly when you are discussing achievements or milestones.
While 'accomplish' is a direct verb, it appears in phrases like 'accomplish the impossible', which highlights extreme effort. Another related expression is 'accomplish nothing', used when someone wastes time. You might also hear 'mission accomplished', a famous military phrase now used to celebrate any successful end to a project.
Pronounced uh-KOM-plish, the stress falls on the second syllable. It is a regular verb, so its past tense and past participle forms are simply accomplished.
It is often followed by a noun (the goal) or a gerund (the action). You might say, 'I accomplished the goal,' or 'I accomplished finishing the report.' It rhymes with 'polish' in some dialects, though the vowel sounds differ slightly.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'complete'.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a schwa sound, followed by a short 'u', then 'plish'.
Similar to UK, but the 'o' is slightly more open.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'plish' as 'pleesh'
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the final 'sh' sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Common word in writing.
Easy to use in formal writing.
Common in professional speech.
Clear pronunciation.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Gerunds
I accomplished reading.
Past Participles
I have accomplished it.
Modal Verbs
I can accomplish it.
Examples by Level
I want to accomplish my work.
I want to finish my job.
Verb + noun
He accomplished the task.
He finished the job.
Past tense
We can accomplish this.
We can do this.
Modal verb
Did you accomplish it?
Did you finish it?
Question form
She accomplished her goal.
She reached her target.
Possessive adjective
They accomplished much.
They did a lot.
Quantifier
I accomplished my chores.
I finished my housework.
Noun plural
It is hard to accomplish.
It is difficult to do.
Infinitive
I hope to accomplish my reading list.
She accomplished the difficult task easily.
We accomplished our main goal today.
He has accomplished so much this year.
They need time to accomplish the work.
Did you accomplish everything on your list?
It is a great feeling to accomplish a goal.
We can accomplish more by working together.
The team accomplished the project ahead of schedule.
He felt proud of what he had accomplished.
She is determined to accomplish her dreams.
We accomplished a lot during the meeting.
It takes patience to accomplish such a task.
They accomplished the mission despite the rain.
What have you accomplished this week?
He struggled but eventually accomplished his aim.
The company accomplished its target for the quarter.
She accomplished the feat of climbing the mountain.
We must focus to accomplish our strategic goals.
He has accomplished a great deal in his career.
The artist accomplished a beautiful masterpiece.
They accomplished a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
It is not easy to accomplish change in a big organization.
She accomplished the task with great skill.
The negotiator accomplished a breakthrough in the talks.
He accomplished the transition to a new career seamlessly.
They accomplished the impossible by finishing on time.
She accomplished her ambition of becoming a doctor.
The project was accomplished through sheer determination.
We accomplished a significant reduction in waste.
He accomplished the task with remarkable efficiency.
They accomplished their vision of a sustainable future.
The architect accomplished a design that defied gravity.
She accomplished a profound shift in public opinion.
He accomplished the synthesis of two complex theories.
They accomplished the delicate task of mediation.
The author accomplished a masterpiece of modern literature.
She accomplished the feat of learning three languages.
He accomplished his life's work at age forty.
They accomplished a monumental task in record time.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"mission accomplished"
the task is finished
We fixed the bug; mission accomplished!
casual"accomplish the impossible"
to do something very hard
She accomplished the impossible today.
literary"accomplish wonders"
to do great things
With more funding, we could accomplish wonders.
neutral"accomplish your ends"
to reach your goal
He used his charm to accomplish his ends.
formal"accomplish little"
to not do much
We spent hours but accomplished little.
neutral"accomplish a great deal"
to do a lot
They accomplished a great deal in the meeting.
neutralEasily Confused
Both mean to reach a goal.
Achieve is often for status/awards; accomplish is for tasks.
Achieve fame vs accomplish a project.
Both mean to end something.
Finish is simple; accomplish implies effort.
Finish dinner vs accomplish a goal.
Both mean to finish.
Complete is about making something whole.
Complete the puzzle.
Both imply reaching a target.
Attain is usually for high levels or abstract things.
Attain mastery.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + accomplish + noun
I accomplished my goal.
Subject + accomplish + gerund
He accomplished finishing the work.
Subject + have + accomplished + noun
We have accomplished the task.
Subject + will + accomplish + noun
They will accomplish the mission.
Subject + can + accomplish + noun
You can accomplish anything.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Accomplish is followed by a gerund, not an infinitive.
Work is usually uncountable here.
Accomplish is usually for goals, not small chores.
Use the noun form for the result.
Again, gerunds are required.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a wall of goals; as you finish one, it glows.
Professionalism
Use it in emails to sound more goal-oriented.
Goal Setting
It is a key word in 'SMART' goal culture.
Gerund Rule
Always follow with -ing or a noun.
The 'plish' sound
Keep it short and crisp.
Avoid 'to' infinitive
Don't say 'accomplish to'.
Etymology
It means to fill up!
Contextualize
Use it in your daily to-do list.
Variety
Swap 'finish' for 'accomplish' in reports.
Confidence
Saying you accomplished something shows confidence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
A-COMP-LISH: A COMPuter LISHts (lists) tasks to finish.
Visual Association
A person placing a final puzzle piece.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 3 things you want to accomplish today.
Word Origin
Old French / Latin
Original meaning: To fill up
Cultural Context
None
Often used in corporate and goal-setting cultures.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- accomplish targets
- accomplish objectives
- accomplish deadlines
At school
- accomplish the assignment
- accomplish research
- accomplish goals
Personal growth
- accomplish my dreams
- accomplish personal milestones
- accomplish habits
Team projects
- accomplish as a team
- accomplish the mission
- accomplish together
Conversation Starters
"What is something you want to accomplish this year?"
"Do you feel you accomplished a lot today?"
"What is the hardest thing you have ever accomplished?"
"How do you feel when you accomplish a big task?"
"Do you prefer to accomplish many small tasks or one big one?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a goal you recently accomplished.
Describe the steps you took to accomplish a difficult task.
What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
How do you celebrate after you accomplish something?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsMostly, but accomplish implies effort and success.
No, use 'I accomplished running' or 'I accomplished my run'.
It is neutral to formal.
Accomplishment.
Use it to describe your achievements.
Yes, they are synonyms.
No, only tasks or goals.
Yes, especially when talking about goals.
Test Yourself
I want to ___ my goal.
Accomplish is the correct verb for goals.
Which means to finish a task?
Accomplish means to finish successfully.
Accomplish is usually used for small, easy tasks.
It is usually for goals or tasks requiring effort.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Score: /5
Summary
To accomplish is to finish a task with success and effort.
- Means to successfully finish a task.
- Requires effort and perseverance.
- Used in professional and personal contexts.
- Noun form is accomplishment.
Memory Palace
Imagine a wall of goals; as you finish one, it glows.
Professionalism
Use it in emails to sound more goal-oriented.
Goal Setting
It is a key word in 'SMART' goal culture.
Gerund Rule
Always follow with -ing or a noun.
