accomplishment
gb/əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/ us/əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
B1
English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
something successfully done or achieved
Something good that you do or finish after working hard.
Usage pattern:
a/an [adjective] accomplishment; [someone]'s accomplishment
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"do an accomplishment"* instead of *"achieve something"* or *"it is an accomplishment"*. Use *accomplishment* as a noun for the result (e.g., *"This is a big accomplishment"*), not as something you *do* directly.
Synonyms
achievement (The most common direct synonym; slightly more frequent in everyday use.)
Antonyms
failure (Refers to not succeeding at something, the opposite of an accomplishment.)
Collocations
great accomplishment
|major accomplishment
|remarkable accomplishment
|personal accomplishment
|academic accomplishment
|professional accomplishment
Themes
work
|success
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Finishing the marathon was a huge accomplishment for her.
- Publishing his first novel felt like the greatest accomplishment of his career.
- The project is a major accomplishment for the whole team.
- Graduating from college is a significant accomplishment in many people's lives.
- Building the bridge in just two years was an impressive engineering accomplishment.
Learner examples
- Passing the exam was a big accomplishment for me.
- Learning to drive was an important accomplishment in her life.
- This painting is his best accomplishment so far.
- Getting the job is a great accomplishment for you.
- Winning the game was an accomplishment for the young team.
Noun
B2
entity
2
a learned skill or ability
A special skill that a person has learned and can do well.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has [many/several] accomplishments; [adjective] accomplishment
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with simple *activities* or *hobbies*. An *accomplishment* in this sense usually suggests you do something well after practice (e.g., *"playing the violin"* as an accomplishment), not just that you tried it once.
Synonyms
skill (More general and common; *accomplishment* can sound slightly more formal or evaluative.)
Antonyms
incompetence (Describes a lack of skill, the opposite of having accomplishments.)
Collocations
many accomplishments
|social accomplishments
|musical accomplishment
|artistic accomplishment
|a woman of many accomplishments
|literary accomplishments
Themes
abilities
|hobbies
|personality
|education
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her musical accomplishments impressed everyone at the audition.
- He is a man of many accomplishments, from cooking to speaking several languages.
- Social accomplishments like good manners were highly valued in that society.
- The school encourages students to list their accomplishments and skills on their applications.
- Her linguistic accomplishments include fluency in four languages.
Learner examples
- Playing the piano is one of her accomplishments.
- He has many accomplishments, like painting and dancing.
- Good communication is an important accomplishment in this job.
- She is proud of her language accomplishments.
- Cooking well is a useful accomplishment.
Noun
formal
C1
action
3
the act of completing something
The act of finishing a goal or plan successfully.
Usage pattern:
the accomplishment of [goals/tasks/objectives]
Common mistake:
This formal sense is often overused by learners in casual speech. In everyday English, it is usually more natural to say *"finish"* or *"complete"* (e.g., *"We finished the project"*, not *"We celebrated the accomplishment of the project"*).
Synonyms
completion (Very close in meaning; *completion* is slightly more common and neutral, while *accomplishment* often emphasizes success.)
Antonyms
noncompletion (A formal term for not completing something, the opposite of accomplishment in this sense.)
Collocations
the accomplishment of goals
|the accomplishment of objectives
|the accomplishment of this mission
|upon the accomplishment of
|full accomplishment
|timely accomplishment
Themes
business
|law
|formal
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The accomplishment of these reforms will require strong political will.
- Payment will be made upon the accomplishment of all contractual obligations.
- The report highlights factors that delayed the accomplishment of the project goals.
- The treaty led to the swift accomplishment of several key objectives.
- Their cooperation was essential to the accomplishment of the mission.
Learner examples
- The accomplishment of the plan took two years.
- Good teamwork helped in the accomplishment of the project.
- The accomplishment of these goals is very important for the company.
- They celebrated the accomplishment of their shared dream.
- The accomplishment of the work depended on enough money.
Grammar
Dictionary form
accomplishment
IPA
GB/əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
US/əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
Syllables & stress
ac - com - plish - ment (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: accomplishment
- Plural: accomplishment, accomplishments
Word family
Forms
accomplishments
noun
Core family
accomplish
verb B2
accomplished
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unaccomplished
adjective
Expressions
crowning accomplishment
1/kɹˈaʊnɪŋ əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
greatest or final achievement
Someone’s best or most important accomplishment, often at the end of their career or life.
Examples
- The discovery was the crowning accomplishment of her scientific career.
- Many see the new museum as the architect’s crowning accomplishment.
- Writing this book became his crowning accomplishment before retirement.
no mean accomplishment
1/nˈoʊ mˈin əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
idiom
formal
an impressive, difficult achievement
Used to say that something is not easy to do and is quite impressive.
Examples
- Running a company and raising three children is no mean accomplishment.
- Climbing that mountain in winter is no mean accomplishment for any athlete.
- Learning two new languages in one year is no mean accomplishment.
personal accomplishment
1/pˈɚsənəl əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
achievement in your own life
Something you do or achieve that is important to you personally.
Examples
- Running her first 10K race was a big personal accomplishment.
- He listed his three greatest personal accomplishments in the job interview.
- Traveling alone was a personal accomplishment that gave her confidence.
sense of accomplishment
1/sˈɛns əv əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt/
fixed phrase
feeling proud after success
A happy and proud feeling you get after you do something difficult or important.
Examples
- She felt a strong sense of accomplishment when she submitted her thesis.
- Finishing the long hike gave them a real sense of accomplishment.
- Volunteering can provide a sense of accomplishment that money cannot buy.