Cool MateAchieve vs Make it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Achieve
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Make it
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Achieve | Make it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtʃiːv/","/əˈtʃiːvz/","/əˈtʃiːvd/","/əˈtʃiːvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ɪt//🇺🇸 //meɪk ɪt// |
| Meaning | To successfully reach a goal or complete something. | to succeed or achieve something |
| Example | She worked hard to achieve her goals. | I hope to make it to the top of the class this semester. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | fail to, be able to, try to, fail to, be able to, try to | make it big, make it happen, make it to the top |
| Antonyms | fail, miss, lose | fail, lose, fall short |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'complete' or 'accomplish', Using 'achieve' with non-count nouns incorrectly, Mistakenly using 'achieve' in informal settings | Using it without context, e.g., 'make it' without saying what is made., Confusing with 'make sure' which has a different meaning., Incorrectly conjugating the phrase for different subjects. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Used to describe achieving a goal or reaching a destination. Common in both spoken and written English. Avoid in overly formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Achieve vs Make it
What's the difference between Achieve and Make it?
Achieve: To successfully reach a goal or complete something. Make it: to succeed or achieve something
Can you show an example of each?
Achieve: She worked hard to achieve her goals. Make it: I hope to make it to the top of the class this semester.
Can I use Achieve and Make it interchangeably?
Not always. Achieve and Make it 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.