Cool MateAccomplishment vs Success
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accomplishment
Success
| Accomplishment | Success | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈses/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something you have achieved or succeeded in doing. | When you achieve something you wanted to do. |
| Example | Graduating from university was a significant accomplishment for my family. | His success in the competition made him very proud. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | amazing, big, considerable, celebrate, recognize, of…accomplishment, accomplishment in, a feeling of accomplishment, a sense of accomplishment, quite an accomplishment, amazing, big, considerable, celebrate, recognize, of…accomplishment, accomplishment in, a feeling of accomplishment, a sense of accomplishment, quite an accomplishment | enormous, great, immense, amount, degree, level, achieve, attain, enjoy, come, lie (in something), depend on something, rate, story, factor, with success, without success, success in, a chance of success, a hope of success, confident of success, resounding, roaring, rousing, be, prove, have, wish somebody (every) success |
| Antonyms | failure, defeat, setback | failure, defeat, setback |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'achievement'; some learners think they mean the same., Using it in a plural form ('accomplishments') without a context that needs it., Mispronouncing it as 'accomplish-ment', instead of 'accom-plish-ment'. | Confused with 'successfully', which is an adverb., Used incorrectly as a verb instead of the noun form., Misplaced in sentences, such as 'We have success' instead of 'We are successful'. |
| Usage notes | This word is often used in formal contexts, such as resumes or discussions about personal goals. It is less common in casual conversations with friends. | Use 'success' when talking about achieving goals or winning in a friendly context. Avoid using it in negative situations or as a mockery. |
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Frequently asked questions: Accomplishment vs Success
What's the difference between Accomplishment and Success?
Accomplishment: Something you have achieved or succeeded in doing. Success: When you achieve something you wanted to do.
Which is more common: Accomplishment and Success?
Success is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Accomplishment and Success?
Accomplishment is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Accomplishment and Success the same CEFR level?
Accomplishment: C1, Success: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Accomplishment and Success?
Accomplishment: noun, Success: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Accomplishment: Graduating from university was a significant accomplishment for my family. Success: His success in the competition made him very proud.
Can I use Accomplishment and Success interchangeably?
Not always. Accomplishment and Success 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.