verb

accomplish

/əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/ · say it: uh·KAM·plish

to achieve or complete successfully

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (verb) to complete something or achieve a goal, especially after effort

2. (verb) to succeed in doing something difficult or important

Examples

1. She accomplished her dream of becoming a doctor.
2. The team accomplished the task ahead of schedule.

How to use accomplish

Accomplish emphasizes successful completion of something that requires effort or skill, often in professional or formal contexts. It is slightly more formal than 'complete' and suggests a sense of achievement. Unlike 'achieve,' which can be more abstract, accomplish typically requires a concrete goal or task.

Common phrases

accomplish a goal
accomplish a task
accomplish nothing
accomplish one's objectives
accomplish great things

Synonyms

achieve · complete · attain · fulfill · execute

Opposites

fail · abandon

Word family

accomplishment (noun) · accomplished (adjective) · accomplishing (verb form)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use accomplish with abstract concepts that don't require action (e.g., 'accomplish an idea' instead of 'develop' or 'conceive of' an idea).

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