accomplishment

IPA/əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/
KK[əkˈɑmplɪʃmənt]IPA/əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/

accomplishment — noun

  • accomplishmentsingular
  • accomplishmentsplural

1. an impressive result that a person or group reaches by putting in time, effort,

1.nounB2
Definition

an impressive result that a person or group reaches by putting in time, effort, or hard work — for example, finishing a marathon, publishing a first book, or saving a struggling business.

Example

Climbing Mount Fuji at age 70 was Mrs. Sato's proudest accomplishment.

noun + of + activity for naming a specific achievement

The young engineers listed their accomplishments on the project's final report.

plural use: list / mention accomplishments

Common collocations
  • a sense of accomplishment
  • a great / major / remarkable accomplishment
  • list one's accomplishments
  • proud accomplishment
Synonyms
  • achievement

    near-identical meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • feat

    stresses skill or daring; often used for single dramatic acts

  • triumph

    stronger; suggests victory after struggle or against rivals

Antonyms
  • failure

    the opposite outcome — an attempt that does not succeed

Grammar Patterns

a/an + accomplishment

accomplishment + of + noun

Usage Note

Often appears with positive modifiers (great, major, remarkable, proud) and in the fixed phrase 'a sense of accomplishment'. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 names the result you achieved; sense 2 names the act of finishing itself.

Common Mistakes

I felt accomplishment after winning.
I felt a sense of accomplishment after winning.
the noun normally takes an article or determiner; 'a sense of accomplishment' is the standard fixed phrase.
It was a accomplishment.
It was an accomplishment.
the word starts with a vowel sound, so use 'an'.

2. the act of bringing a task, goal, or plan to its end so that nothing more is nee

2.nounC1
Definition

the act of bringing a task, goal, or plan to its end so that nothing more is needed — used as an uncountable noun in fairly formal writing.

Example

The accomplishment of the bridge project depended on steady weather all summer.

pattern: the accomplishment of + noun (formal)

The mayor praised the team for the swift accomplishment of the road repairs.

modifier + accomplishment of + task noun

Common collocations
  • the accomplishment of a task / mission / goal
  • swift / successful accomplishment
  • upon the accomplishment of
Synonyms
  • completion

    more common and neutral in register

  • fulfilment

    stresses meeting a promise, duty, or expectation

  • execution

    focuses on carrying out a plan rather than finishing it

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the accomplishment of + noun

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — no plural and no 'a/an'. Almost always followed by 'of + noun naming the task'. More formal than 'completion' or 'finishing'; rare in casual speech.

Common Mistakes

After accomplishments of the report, the team rested.
After the accomplishment of the report, the team rested.
this sense is uncountable, so no plural form.
We celebrated an accomplishment of the project.
We celebrated the accomplishment of the project.
use 'the', not 'a/an', with this uncountable sense.

3. a polished ability that someone has learned through practice, such as playing an

3.nounC1
Definition

a polished ability that someone has learned through practice, such as playing an instrument, speaking another language, or fine cooking — often listed as one of several talents that make a person interesting or well-rounded.

Example

Singing in three languages was just one of Aunt Liang's many accomplishments.

plural: one of someone's accomplishments

The school taught girls dancing, painting, and other genteel accomplishments.

list of polite skills (slightly old-fashioned tone)

Common collocations
  • one of her accomplishments
  • musical / artistic / social accomplishments
  • polished accomplishments
Synonyms
  • skill

    everyday word; less formal and less old-fashioned

  • talent

    suggests natural gift; accomplishment stresses learning through practice

  • proficiency

    formal; emphasises a high level of competence in one area

Grammar Patterns

accomplishments (usually plural)

Usage Note

Usually plural and slightly old-fashioned or formal — common in older novels and polite descriptions of a person's social skills. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is a one-off result you achieved; sense 3 is a lasting personal skill you can perform.

Common Mistakes

Reading is my accomplishment.
Reading classical Chinese is one of her accomplishments.
this sense usually appears in the plural and refers to a refined skill, not a basic ability.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words all describe a successful result, but they differ in tone and scale. 'Achievement' is the most common everyday choice — Anna's promotion was a real achievement. 'Accomplishment' feels slightly warmer and more personal, often pairing with 'a sense of': finishing the marathon gave her a sense of accomplishment. 'Feat' highlights the skill, courage, or difficulty of a single act, especially something physical or daring — landing the plane on one engine was an extraordinary feat. 'Triumph' is the strongest of the four, suggesting victory after a struggle or over rivals — the small clinic's funding battle ended in triumph. In Taiwan school and workplace English, 'achievement' and 'accomplishment' are usually safe; reach for 'feat' or 'triumph' only when the situation truly fits.

accomplishment ↗achievement ↗feat ↗triumph ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sense of accomplishment
  • feeling of accomplishment
  • list of accomplishments

Phrases

  • a sense of accomplishment
  • one of her many accomplishments
  • no small accomplishment

Prepositions

  • of (the accomplishment of a task)
  • with (with a sense of accomplishment)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Accomplishment entered English in the late 1400s from Old French 'acomplissement', formed on the verb 'acomplir' meaning to finish or carry out. That French verb traces back to Latin 'complere', to fill up, with the prefix 'ad-' adding the idea of bringing something fully to its end. The earliest English uses pointed to the act of finishing a task. The 'impressive result' meaning grew naturally from this, and the 'polished personal skill' meaning became fashionable in 18th-century writing about education and manners.