Successful: meaning, definitions and examples

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successful

 

[ sษ™kหˆsษ›sfสŠl ]

Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

career advancement

Having achieved a desired outcome or having attained a goal, especially in terms of one's career.

Synonyms

accomplished, triumphant, victorious.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
successful

Use this word to describe someone or something that has achieved a desired aim or result, often used in general or professional contexts.

  • She is a successful businesswoman
  • The project was successful
accomplished

This word is best used to describe someone who has achieved a lot and is highly skilled, often in a particular area like arts, sports, or academics.

  • He is an accomplished musician
  • She is accomplished in her field of study
victorious

This word is used to describe someone or a team that has won a competition or conflict, often used in sports, battles, or contests.

  • The victorious army returned home
  • They were victorious in the championship game
triumphant

Use this word to describe a feeling of joy or pride after a major success, usually after overcoming significant challenges.

  • He felt triumphant after winning the marathon
  • The team was triumphant in the final match

Examples of usage

  • She was promoted after a successful year of exceeding sales targets.
  • His successful presentation led to a new job opportunity.
  • The successful completion of the project impressed the clients.
Context #2 | Adjective

exam results

Achieving the desired or intended result, especially in an exam or test.

Synonyms

passing, positive, satisfactory.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
successful

Use this word when referring to the achievement of desired goals or outcomes. It's often used for significant achievements or accomplishments.

  • She had a successful career in medicine.
  • The experiment was successful and produced valuable results.
satisfactory

This word is used when something meets acceptable standards but is not exceptional. It's often found in customer service, education, and performance reviews.

  • The work he submitted was satisfactory but lacked creativity.
  • The meal was satisfactory, but nothing special.
passing

This word is commonly used in educational or testing contexts to indicate that someone has met minimum requirements. It can also describe something temporary or fleeting.

  • He received a passing grade on his final exam.
  • They had a passing acquaintance with each other.
positive

This word generally conveys an optimistic or favorable condition. It is used to describe attitudes, test results, and situations that are beneficial.

  • She has a positive outlook on life.
  • The test results were positive, indicating good progress.

Examples of usage

  • She was thrilled to receive her successful exam results.
  • The students celebrated their successful completion of the course.

Translations

Translations of the word "successful" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น bem-sucedido

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคซเคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช erfolgreich

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berhasil

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัƒัะฟั–ัˆะฝะธะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ udany

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๆˆๅŠŸใ—ใŸ (ใ›ใ„ใ“ใ†ใ—ใŸ)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท rรฉussi

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ exitoso

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท baลŸarฤฑlฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์„ฑ๊ณต์ ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ุงุฌุญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รบspฤ›ลกnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ รบspeลกnรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆˆๅŠŸ็š„ (chรฉnggลng de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ uspeลกen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รกrangursrรญkur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัำ™ั‚ั‚ั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฌแƒแƒ แƒ›แƒแƒขแƒ”แƒ‘แƒฃแƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ uฤŸurlu

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ exitoso

Etymology

The word 'successful' originates from the Latin word 'successus', which means 'an advance, a coming up; a good result, happy outcome'. The term has been in use since the mid-16th century. Over time, it has come to represent achieving a desired outcome or attaining a goal, especially in terms of one's career or endeavors.

See also: successes, successfully, succession, successive, successively, successor, successors, unsuccess, unsuccessful, unsuccessfully.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,041, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.