B2 noun #3,500 most common 2 min read

accomplishment

An accomplishment is a goal you have reached through hard work.

Explanation at your level:

An accomplishment is something you do well. If you study hard and pass a test, that is an accomplishment. It makes you feel happy and proud of yourself. You can have many small accomplishments every single day!

When you work hard to finish a project, that is an accomplishment. It is a positive result of your effort. For example, learning to swim is a big accomplishment for many children.

An accomplishment is a goal you have reached. It usually requires time and skill. We often talk about 'personal accomplishments' like learning a hobby or 'professional accomplishments' like getting a promotion at work.

The term is used to describe the successful completion of a challenging endeavor. It carries a sense of merit; you don't just 'get' an accomplishment, you 'earn' it through perseverance and dedication. It is a formal way to acknowledge success.

In advanced contexts, an accomplishment represents the culmination of sustained effort. It is often used in academic or professional evaluations to denote a significant milestone. The word implies a degree of mastery and competence that distinguishes the individual.

Etymologically, the word signifies the 'filling' of a potential. It denotes the transition from capability to realized achievement. In literary and formal discourse, it highlights the intersection of talent and discipline, often used to frame a person's life work or legacy.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • A noun meaning a successful achievement.
  • Requires effort and skill.
  • Common in professional settings.
  • Synonym for achievement.

Hey there! Think of an accomplishment as a gold star for your efforts. It is not just about finishing a task; it is about the pride and success that comes after you have worked hard to reach a goal.

Whether it is graduating from school, learning a new language, or finally fixing that leaky faucet, these are all accomplishments. It is a word that celebrates the journey of effort leading to a positive result.

The word accomplishment comes from the Old French word acomplir, which means 'to complete' or 'to fulfill'. It is rooted in the Latin word complere, meaning 'to fill up'.

Over time, it evolved to describe not just the act of finishing, but the achievement itself. It is fascinating how a word that once just meant 'filling something up' now represents the peak of human effort and success!

You will hear this word in both professional and casual settings. In business, you might list your major accomplishments on a resume to show what you can do.

In daily life, we often use it to praise others. Saying, 'That is a great accomplishment!' is a wonderful way to acknowledge someone's hard work and dedication.

While 'accomplishment' is usually a direct noun, it is linked to idioms like 'feather in one's cap', which means an accomplishment you are proud of. Another is 'to pull it off', meaning to succeed in a difficult task.

You might also hear 'success story', which describes a person or project that is a significant accomplishment, or 'a job well done', which is the ultimate compliment for an accomplishment.

Grammatically, it is a countable noun. You can have one accomplishment or many accomplishments. It is often used with verbs like 'achieve' or 'celebrate'.

Pronunciation-wise, the stress is on the second syllable: uh-KOM-plish-ment. It rhymes with words like 'replenishment' and 'admonishment'.

Fun Fact

It shares a root with 'complete'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /əˈkɒmplɪʃmənt/

Clear 'o' sound.

US /əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/

Slightly more open 'a' sound.

Common Errors

  • stressing the wrong syllable
  • dropping the 'sh' sound
  • mispronouncing the 'ment' ending

Rhymes With

replenishment admonishment banishment punishment vanishment

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Moderate

Writing 2/5

Moderate

Speaking 2/5

Moderate

Listening 2/5

Moderate

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Goal Work Finish

Learn Next

Perseverance Milestone

Advanced

Achievement Attainment

Grammar to Know

Noun usage

An accomplishment is a noun.

Examples by Level

1

I finished my homework.

I completed my work.

Simple past tense.

1

She felt proud of her accomplishment.

2

Winning the game was a huge accomplishment.

3

He listed his accomplishments on his resume.

4

Learning English is a big accomplishment.

5

They celebrated their group accomplishment.

6

What is your greatest accomplishment?

7

She has many accomplishments.

8

Hard work leads to accomplishment.

1

His academic accomplishments are impressive.

2

She felt a sense of accomplishment after the hike.

3

The project was a significant accomplishment for the team.

4

They celebrated the accomplishment with a party.

5

It is a great accomplishment to write a book.

6

He takes pride in his professional accomplishments.

7

The accomplishment took three years of work.

8

She reached a major accomplishment today.

1

The construction of the bridge was an engineering accomplishment.

2

Her career is a long list of accomplishments.

3

He viewed the promotion as a personal accomplishment.

4

It was a rare accomplishment for such a young athlete.

5

The team's accomplishment was recognized by the CEO.

6

She felt a deep sense of accomplishment at the finish line.

7

His accomplishment is a testament to his hard work.

8

They achieved this accomplishment through sheer perseverance.

1

The treaty was a diplomatic accomplishment of the highest order.

2

She considers her charitable work her greatest accomplishment.

3

His life's work is a monumental accomplishment in science.

4

The accomplishment of such a goal requires immense discipline.

5

They were honored for their collective accomplishment.

6

He downplayed his own accomplishment despite the praise.

7

The accomplishment serves as a benchmark for future projects.

8

Her artistic accomplishment has influenced many others.

1

The realization of the project was a crowning accomplishment.

2

He regarded the resolution of the conflict as his finest accomplishment.

3

The sheer scale of the accomplishment left the critics speechless.

4

She viewed her tenure as a series of quiet accomplishments.

5

Such an accomplishment is rarely seen in this field.

6

The accomplishment of the mission was paramount.

7

His intellectual accomplishment remains unmatched.

8

They celebrated the accomplishment of their long-term vision.

Synonyms

achievement feat attainment triumph realization success

Antonyms

Common Collocations

major accomplishment
personal accomplishment
professional accomplishment
great accomplishment
significant accomplishment
remarkable accomplishment
list of accomplishments
sense of accomplishment
celebrate an accomplishment
achieve an accomplishment

Idioms & Expressions

"feather in one's cap"

an accomplishment to be proud of

Winning the award was a feather in her cap.

idiomatic

""

""

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Easily Confused

accomplishment vs Achievement

They are synonyms.

Accomplishment is often more about the process.

He achieved his goal vs. His accomplishment was great.

Sentence Patterns

A2

Subject + verb + accomplishment

She celebrated her accomplishment.

Word Family

Nouns

accomplisher someone who accomplishes

Verbs

accomplish to finish successfully

Adjectives

accomplished highly skilled

Related

completion synonym

How to Use It

frequency

8

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral Casual

Common Mistakes

accomplishness accomplishment
The suffix is -ment, not -ness.
using 'accomplished' as a noun
confusing with 'completion'
misspelling as 'acomplishment'
using it for small tasks

Tips

💡

Resume Tip

Always use 'accomplishment' to describe your work history.

💡

Countable Noun

Remember to use 'an' or pluralize it.

💡

Root Word

It comes from 'complete'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

A-C-C-O-M-P-L-I-S-H: Always Create Clear Objectives, Make Progress, Lead In Success, Have Great Habits.

Visual Association

A mountain climber reaching the peak.

Word Web

Success Goal Effort Pride

Challenge

Write down three things you did this week that you are proud of.

Word Origin

French/Latin

Original meaning: To fill up

Cultural Context

None.

Highly valued in Western cultures as a sign of ambition.

Many graduation speeches focus on 'accomplishments'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Work

  • List of accomplishments
  • Key accomplishment
  • Professional accomplishment

Conversation Starters

"What is your proudest accomplishment?"

"Do you think hard work always leads to accomplishment?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you felt a sense of accomplishment.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

They are very similar, but accomplishment focuses on the task completed.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

Winning the race was a great ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: accomplishment

It describes a successful act.

multiple choice A2

Which is an accomplishment?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: Learning to read

Learning to read is a skill achieved.

true false B1

An accomplishment is always easy.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It usually requires effort.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

They are synonyms.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Standard sentence structure.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

More Work words

abformize

C1

To structure or give a specific, standardized form to an object, idea, or process, often based on a pre-existing model or mold. It is frequently used in technical or theoretical contexts to describe the transition from an amorphous state to a defined configuration.

abmissery

C1

To formally discharge or release an individual from a specific duty, mission, or administrative post, typically due to a failure to meet requirements or an organizational change. It implies a structured removal from a position of responsibility before the natural conclusion of a term.

abregship

C1

To systematically condense, streamline, or narrow the scope of duties and authorities inherent in a formal leadership position or institutional office. This verb is typically used in the context of organizational restructuring to describe the reduction of a role's breadth to increase efficiency.

absigntude

C1

To formally and publicly relinquish a position of authority or a professional responsibility, specifically as an act of moral or ethical protest. This verb implies that the departure is accompanied by a documented statement of principles or a refusal to comply with compromised standards.

achievement

C1

A thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill. In an academic or professional context, it refers to the act of reaching a specific level of performance or completing a significant milestone.

adantiary

C1

To strategically adjust or modify an existing plan, process, or structure in anticipation of specific future obstacles or changes. This verb describes the proactive act of refining a strategy before a problem actually occurs.

adept

C1

Highly skilled or proficient at a task that requires specific knowledge or practice. It describes a person who can perform complex actions with ease and precision.

adflexship

C1

To strategically and dynamically adapt one's professional approach or methodology by flexibly integrating new skills or environmental shifts. It describes the active process of mastering situational changes to maintain a competitive or functional advantage.

adhument

C1

To provide support, assistance, or reinforcement to a person, organization, or project. It specifically refers to the act of strengthening an existing foundation or effort through additional resources or effort.

adjustment

B2

A small change or modification made to improve something or to make it work better. It also refers to the process of becoming used to a new situation or environment.

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