success

plural successes · alternative archaic successe

1. countableuncountableThe achievement of one's aim or goal.First known use 16th c.

   a glowing success

   3 more examples

   His third attempt to pass the entrance exam was a success.

   Actually there was recently a talented young female bassoonist who gave up a promising career on that sturdy instrument, not to do something more feminine but to take up bullfighting. This is Patricia Hayes of San Angelo, Texas, who has had spectacular success in the arenas of Mexico and Portugal. Unfortunately she is not America's only matadoress.

   1956 December 24, Cornelia Otis Skinner, “Women are misguided: They are still waging a shrill, ridiculous war over the dead issue of feminism”, in Life, volume 41, number 26, page 75

   Republicans are launching a new nonprofit group to highlight the legislative successes of its vulnerable incumbents with a $2 million advertising blitz touting the work of five vulnerable GOP senators to protect Medicare.

   2015 May 12, Alexandra Jaffe, “First on CNN: New Rove-linked group spends $2M to boost GOP incumbents”, in CNN

   Synonyms: hit · Antonyms: failure

2. countableuncountablebusinessFinancial profitability.

   Don't let success go to your head.

   1 more example

   Instead Nokia decided better to stick with what they knew worked - good, solid, reliable mobile phones of the kind that had brought them success until then.

   2013 September 24, Noreena Hertz, “Noreena Hertz: Don’t get stuck in your own success”, in CNN

3. countableuncountableOne who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.

   Scholastically, he was a success.

   4 more examples

   The new range of toys has been a resounding success.

   There have been other drugs since reticulose that I became aware of the successes of, some even able to claim "cure," even turning people from HIV-positive to negative.

   1998, Gavin Dillard, In the Flesh: Undressing for Success, page 141

   There have been some surprising successes, though - the LTM's [London Transport Museum's] online gift shop is currently selling 75% more products during lockdown than it was in the same period last year.

   2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 53

   Freightliner says trials with a new lower-emission fuel for its diesel fleet have been a success, raising its credentials as a supporter of reducing greenhouse gases.

   2021 December 1, “Network News: Freightliner claims emissions success”, in RAIL, number 945, page 15

4. countableuncountableThe fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.

   She is country music's most recent success.

5. countableobsoleteuncountableSomething which happens as a consequence; the outcome or result.First known use 16th–18th c.

   I suppose them as at the beginning of no meane endeavour, not a little alter'd and mov'd inwardly in their mindes: Some with doubt of what will be the successe, others with fear of what will be the censure; some with hope, others with confidence of what they have to speake.

   1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], →OCLC

1. A suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
2. A town in Clay County, Arkansas.
3. A ghost town in Jasper County, Mississippi.
4. An unincorporated community in Texas County, Missouri.
5. An unincorporated township in Coos County, New Hampshire.
6. An unincorporated community in Meigs County, Ohio.
7. A village in Saskatchewan, Canada.
8. A surname.