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achieve

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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An Indonesian child actress holding a trophy she has achieved (sense 1.3).

Etymology

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    From Middle English achieven, acheven (to accomplish (something); to acquire or obtain (something); to carry out or finish (something); to succeed in (something); to happen, turn out),[1] from Anglo-Norman achever, achiever, Middle French achever, achiever, and Old French achever, achiever (to accomplish (something); to finish (something); to succeed in (something)) (modern French achever), and then from either of the following:[2]

    Pronunciation

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    Verb

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    achieve (third-person singular simple present achieves, present participle achieving, simple past and past participle achieved)

    1. (transitive)
      1. To carry out or conclude (something, as a task) successfully; to accomplish. [from 14th c.]
        Synonyms: (dated) compass, fulfil, realize, walk away with
        to achieve one’s goals
        Hannah achieved her lifelong dream of winning a medal at the Olympics.
        You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
      2. To gain or obtain (a desired objective, result, etc.) through effort or skill; to succeed in attaining (an objective, result, etc.); to win. [from 14th c.]
        Synonyms: attain, (dated) compass, get one's hands on, register
      3. (archaic except literary) To obtain (a physical thing); to get. [from 15th c.]
      4. (obsolete) To end or finish (something); to terminate; (specifically, military) to win (a battle or war). [14th–18th c.]
        Synonyms: complete, conclude, finalize
    2. (intransitive)
      1. To attain a goal; to succeed in something, now especially in academic performance; (generally) to make an effort; strive. [from 14th c.]
        He could really achieve in school if he worked hard.
      2. (archaic or literary) Followed by to: to attain a certain position, status, etc. [from 15th c.]
      3. (obsolete) To come to an end; conclude, end; also, to result, to turn out; or (uncommon) to be affected by fate in a certain way. [14th–16th c.]

    Conjugation

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    Alternative forms

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    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

    References

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    1. ^ achẹ̄ven, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
    2. ^ achieve, v.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford: Oxford University Press, June 2026; achieve, v.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

    Further reading

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    Anagrams

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