Meaning & use
accomplish
Last updated
UK/əˈkʌmplɪʃ/
US/əˈkʌmplɪʃ/
Meaning
verbtransitive
To succeed in doing or completing something difficult, important, or requiring effort.
Grammar: Takes an object such as task, goal, mission, or much/nothing; no object alone.
Patterns
- accomplish a task
- accomplish a goal
- accomplish something
- accomplish nothing
We accomplished the whole project ahead of schedule.
She accomplished her goal of learning to swim.
The team accomplished a great deal in one week.
Word forms
| third person singular | accomplishes |
|---|---|
| past tense | accomplished |
| past participle | accomplished |
| -ing form | accomplishing |
Common combinations
- accomplish a goal
- He accomplished his goal without extra funding.
- accomplish a mission
- The crew accomplished its mission safely.
- accomplish nothing
- The long meeting accomplished nothing.
- easily accomplished
- The repair was easily accomplished with the right tool.
Synonyms and how they differ
- achieve
- Achieve is the closest everyday word for reaching aims; accomplish often stresses finishing work that required effort.
- complete
- Complete emphasizes finishing something, while accomplish adds the idea of success after effort.
- fulfill
- Fulfill fits duties, promises, or potential; accomplish fits tasks and goals more naturally.
- attain
- Attain is more formal and often used with high aims, positions, or standards.
Opposites
failabandon
Word family
- accomplished adjective
- Skilled through practice, or successfully completed.
- accomplishment noun
- An achieved thing, or the act of achieving.
- accomplishable adjective
- Possible to achieve; useful but less common.
Commonly confused: accomplish or accompany?
accomplish vs accompany
Accompany means go with someone; accomplish means finish or achieve something.
Practice
Choose the natural pattern.
Choose one answer.
Accomplish is transitive and directly takes the goal or task: accomplish the task. It is not followed by to, at, or for.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “accomplish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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