Accomplish vs Achieve

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Accomplish

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 verb

Achieve

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

	Accomplish	Achieve
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/əˈkʌmplɪʃ/","/əˈkʌmplɪʃɪz/","/əˈkʌmplɪʃt/","/əˈkʌmplɪʃɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈkɑːmplɪʃ/","/əˈkɑːmplɪʃɪz/","/əˈkɑːmplɪʃt/","/əˈkɑːmplɪʃɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To successfully complete something.	To successfully reach a goal or complete something.
Example	The first part of the plan has been safely accomplished.	She worked hard to achieve her goals.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	B2	A2
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	successfully, easily	fail to, be able to, try to, fail to, be able to, try to
Antonyms	fail, neglect, abandon	fail, miss, lose
Common mistakes	Confusing with 'accomplished' which is an adjective., Using 'accomplish' without an object (e.g., saying 'I accomplish.' instead of 'I accomplish my goals.').	Confused with 'complete' or 'accomplish', Using 'achieve' with non-count nouns incorrectly, Mistakenly using 'achieve' in informal settings
Usage notes	Use 'accomplish' when referring to achieving goals or tasks, typically in a positive context. It may not be appropriate for casual or less formal situations where simpler words like 'do' might work better.	Use 'achieve' when talking about completing a goal or success in a task. It's appropriate in both personal and professional contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations.

See it in real clips

We can still skip it and accomplish our mission.

Right. What do you think you're gonna accomplish?

We can still skip it and accomplish our mission.

Right. What do you think you're gonna accomplish?

Accomplish

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms.

Achieve

Frequently asked questions: Accomplish vs Achieve

What's the difference between Accomplish and Achieve?

Accomplish: To successfully complete something. Achieve: To successfully reach a goal or complete something.

Which is more advanced: Accomplish and Achieve?

Accomplish is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Accomplish and Achieve the same CEFR level?

Accomplish: B2, Achieve: A2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Accomplish and Achieve?

Accomplish: verb, Achieve: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Accomplish: The first part of the plan has been safely accomplished. Achieve: She worked hard to achieve her goals.

Can I use Accomplish and Achieve interchangeably?

Not always. Accomplish and Achieve are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.