accomplish
uh-KUHM-plihsh
Accomplish (verb) means to succeed in doing or finishing something, especially something difficult. Example: “With careful planning, you can accomplish a surprising amount before lunch.”
verb
1
To succeed in doing or finishing something, especially something difficult.
"With careful planning, you can accomplish a surprising amount before lunch."
"She accomplished her goal of running a marathon before turning forty."
"The team accomplished more in one week than expected in a month."
How to use accomplish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo finish a goal or task successfully.
Common pairings
accomplish a goal
accomplish a task
much was accomplished
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- accomplishes
- Past tense
- accomplished
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With careful planning, you can _____ a surprising amount before lunch.
Etymology
From Old French acomplir, from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to fill up completely" — related to the English word "complete."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “accomplish” mean?
The word “accomplish” means to succeed in doing or finishing something, especially something difficult. In plain terms, to finish a goal or task successfully.
How do you pronounce “accomplish”?
“Accomplish” is pronounced uh-KUHM-plihsh (/əˈkɑm.plɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “accomplish” in a sentence?
Here is “accomplish” used in a sentence: “She accomplished her goal of running a marathon before turning forty.”
What is another word for “accomplish”?
Words with a similar meaning to “accomplish” include do, perform, fulfill, realize, effect and effectuate.
What part of speech is “accomplish”?
“Accomplish” is a verb.
Where does the word “accomplish” come from?
The word “accomplish” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old French acomplir, from Vulgar Latin roots meaning "to fill up completely" — related to the English word "complete.".
Is “accomplish” a common word?
“Accomplish” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between accomplish and achieve?
The two overlap heavily, but achieve tends to emphasize reaching a goal or standard, often over time ("achieve success"), while accomplish emphasizes successfully finishing a specific task or piece of work ("accomplish the mission"). In many sentences either word works.
What is the difference between accomplish and complete?
Complete simply means to bring something to an end, with no comment on how hard it was, while accomplish implies succeeding at something that required effort or skill. You complete a form, but you accomplish a difficult goal.
What words commonly go with accomplish?
Accomplish usually takes goal-like objects: you accomplish a task, a goal, a mission, an objective, a feat, or "a great deal." It is not normally used for trivial everyday actions, because the verb implies effort and difficulty.
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