Meaning & use
achievement-oriented
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Focused on reaching goals and producing measurable results, often in work or study.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem': an achievement-oriented student; the team is achievement-oriented.
Patterns
- achievement-oriented person
- achievement-oriented culture
- be achievement-oriented
She works best in an achievement-oriented environment where targets are clear.
The school is very achievement-oriented and celebrates high test scores.
His achievement-oriented approach helped him finish the project ahead of schedule.
adjectivenot comparable
Designed to emphasize or reward reaching specific goals, as in a system or policy.
Grammar: Often used to describe systems, policies, or organizations rather than individuals.
Patterns
- achievement-oriented system
- achievement-oriented policy
The new pay structure is achievement-oriented, rewarding those who meet their targets.
An achievement-oriented curriculum may leave less room for creative exploration.
Common combinations
- highly achievement-oriented
- The company is highly achievement-oriented and sets ambitious quarterly goals.
- achievement-oriented culture
- An achievement-oriented culture can motivate employees but also increase stress.
- achievement-oriented approach
- Her achievement-oriented approach to studying paid off in excellent grades.
- achievement-oriented society
- Some argue that an achievement-oriented society overlooks other forms of success.
Synonyms and how they differ
- goal-oriented
- Similar, but goal-oriented often emphasizes planning and direction toward a specific aim, while achievement-oriented stresses actual results.
- results-driven
- More common in business contexts and focuses on outcomes, whereas achievement-oriented can also describe personal traits.
- ambitious
- Describes a strong desire for success, but does not necessarily imply a systematic focus on measurable achievements.
Opposites
Word family
- achievement noun
- Something done successfully through effort.
- achieve verb
- To succeed in doing something after trying hard.
- achiever noun
- A person who reaches goals, often used in 'high achiever'.
Commonly confused: achievement-oriented or achievement-orientated?
achievement-oriented vs achievement-orientated
A less common British variant; both mean the same, but 'achievement-oriented' is more standard in American and British English.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'achievement-oriented' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses the adjective after 'is' to describe a person. Option 1 treats it as a noun, which is wrong. Option 2 uses it as a verb, which is incorrect. Option 3 uses 'to' incorrectly; 'achievement-oriented' does not take that preposition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “achievement-oriented”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.