Achieve: Definition and Part of Speech
Achieve is a verb that refers to successfully reaching a goal or completing a task. It implies effort and accomplishment and often carries connotations of overcoming challenges. The primary forms include the base form “achieve,” the present participle “achieving,” the past tense “achieved,” and the past participle also used as an adjective, “achieved.”
Core Synonyms
Below is a table listing various synonyms for achieve, highlighting their nuanced meanings and appropriate contexts.
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attain | Emphasizes reaching something often through effort or persistence. | “She finally attained her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.” | Formal/Informal |
| Accomplish | Implies completing tasks with proficiency or success. | “The team accomplished all its goals ahead of schedule.” | Business/Casual |
| Reach | Focuses on the act of arriving at a particular point, often used in broader contexts. | “He reached new heights in his career last year.” | Informal/Formal |
| Fulfill | Suggests satisfying a requirement or obligation. | “She fulfilled her promise to help the local shelter.” | Formal/Academic |
| Realize | Often refers to becoming aware of something, but can mean accomplishing goals as well. | “They realized their dream by traveling around the world.” | Informal/Neutral |
Usage Notes
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Attain: Common in both formal and informal settings where emphasis is on effort or aspiration. Used effectively in educational contexts (e.g., “attain proficiency”) and personal development narratives.
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Accomplish: Well-suited for business writing and goal-setting, suggesting efficiency and success. It’s often used when describing the completion of tasks or objectives within a given time frame.
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Reach: This versatile synonym is casual enough for everyday conversation but can also be formal if discussing milestones (e.g., “reach an agreement” in negotiations).
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Fulfill: Particularly useful in contexts involving obligations, promises, or roles. It’s prevalent in academic and professional settings where meeting expectations is crucial.
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Realize: While commonly used to mean understanding or becoming aware of something, it’s also applicable when discussing the achievement of goals, often with a personal touch (e.g., realizing one’s potential).
Common Pitfalls
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Confusion between “realize” and “achieve”: Both can imply accomplishment, but “realize” is more commonly used to denote understanding or becoming aware, whereas “achieve” directly indicates accomplishing a goal.
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Misuse of “accomplish” vs. “complete”: While both suggest finishing something, “accomplish” connotes doing so with notable success or skill, while “complete” merely implies finishing a task without the added nuance of proficiency.
Final Recap
In summary, synonyms like attain, accomplish, reach, fulfill, and realize offer nuanced variations to express achievement. Each carries distinct connotations that suit various contexts, from casual conversation to formal writing. By understanding these subtleties, learners can enrich their vocabulary and communicate more precisely.
Encouraging practice through crafting sentences or using these words in dialogue will solidify comprehension and help expand language proficiency effectively.