achievement
C1Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Something that has been accomplished successfully, especially through effort, skill, or courage.
The process of attaining such accomplishments; the act of achieving something; also used to denote a notable symbol or award (like a badge in gaming) representing such an accomplishment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a significant, praiseworthy, or difficult result. Can refer to both the act of achieving and the tangible or intangible result itself. In educational contexts, often relates to measured performance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. 'Achievement test' is common in both. 'Attainment' is a more formal/specific synonym sometimes preferred in UK educational contexts.
Connotations
Largely identical. Both strongly positive. Slightly stronger association with personal effort in AmE; can have a slight institutional/goal-oriented nuance in BrE (e.g., 'achievement targets').
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpus data, but a high-frequency word in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
achieve an achievement (tautological, avoid)an achievement in [field]an achievement for [person/group]be proud of one's achievementcelebrate an achievementVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sense of achievement”
- “no mean achievement”
- “a crowning achievement”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to reaching sales targets, completing projects, or hitting key performance indicators (KPIs).
Academic
Refers to students' educational outcomes, test scores, or scholarly contributions.
Everyday
Used for personal goals like learning a skill, getting a promotion, or raising a family.
Technical
In gaming/software: a digital reward for completing a specific task. In psychology: a measured outcome in performance tests.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- To achieve one's potential is the ultimate goal.
- The team achieved a remarkable victory.
American English
- She achieved all her career objectives early.
- The project achieved its funding target.
adverb
British English
- The task was achieved remarkably quickly.
- (Rarely used directly; 'successfully' is preferred.)
American English
- He performed achievement-wise above his peers.
- (Rare; 'in terms of achievement' is standard.)
adjective
British English
- She comes from an achieving school.
- He has an achievement-oriented mindset.
American English
- The achievement gap in education is a major concern.
- They set achievement goals for the quarter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Finishing my homework was a big achievement.
- Learning to ride a bike is an achievement for a child.
- Winning the school science fair was her greatest achievement.
- They celebrated the achievement of their fundraising goal.
- Completing the marathon in under four hours was a personal achievement that required months of training.
- The treaty is widely regarded as a major diplomatic achievement.
- His seminal paper on quantum mechanics stands as his crowning achievement, cementing his legacy in the field.
- The organisation measures its success not just in profit, but in its social impact achievements.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A CHIEVe-ME-NT' – you have to 'achieve' something 'me' (myself) to get that 'nt' (nice trophy).
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (to acquire, unlock, earn, treasure). ACHIEVEMENT IS A HIGH POINT (pinnacle, peak, summit of one's career).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'достижение' as 'achievement' in all contexts, as Russian 'достижение' can be more general. For physical reach (достичь города) use 'reach'. For technological 'достижения', 'advancements' or 'developments' may be better.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'He achievement his goal'). Confusing with 'accomplishment' (subtle: 'achievement' often implies overcoming obstacles; 'accomplishment' can be a completed task). Spelling: acheivement (incorrect - no 'e' after 'v').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'achievement' LEAST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily countable (e.g., 'many achievements'). It can be uncountable when referring to the concept or feeling (e.g., 'a sense of achievement').
They are often interchangeable. 'Achievement' often stresses the effort and skill to overcome challenges. 'Acccomplishment' can imply a successfully completed task or a refined skill, sometimes with less emphasis on difficulty.
Typically, no. It carries a positive connotation. A negative result would be a 'failure' or 'disaster'. However, it can be used ironically (e.g., 'His only achievement was getting fired from three jobs in a month').
A common term in education (especially AmE) referring to the persistent disparity in academic performance between groups of students, often defined by socioeconomic status, race, or gender.
Collections
Part of a collection
Workplace Vocabulary
B1 · 48 words · Professional language for the working environment.