Words / B1

uh-CHEEVM-uh-nt/əˈtʃiːvmənt/

An achievement is a success you worked for: a real achievement; academic achievement. Success is wider; accomplishment is a close formal twin. Achieve is the verb (already in the dictionary). Do not call luck an achievement, and do not write “achievement of passing” — say the achievement of + -ing or passing was an achievement.

Meaning

Something good that you have succeeded in doing, especially through effort.

Examples

• “Passing the exam on the first attempt was a real achievement.”
• “Passing the exam at the first attempt was a genuine achievement.”
• “The report praised the school’s achievement in maths, not only in sport.”

Good to know

a real / academic achievement. Verb: achieve. Close: accomplishment. Not luck. Pattern: passing was an achievement.

Near in meaning

accomplishment

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