Cool MateAccomplishment vs Achievement vs Attainment vs Success
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Accomplishment
Achievement
Attainment
Success
| Accomplishment | Achievement | Attainment | Success | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈkɑːmplɪʃmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈtʃiːvmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈtʃiːvmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //əˈteɪnmənt//🇺🇸 //əˈteɪnmənt// | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈses/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something you have achieved or succeeded in doing. | Something you have done successfully. | Achieving a goal or something desired. | When you achieve something you wanted to do. |
| Example | Graduating from university was a significant accomplishment for my family. | Winning the championship was a great achievement for the team. | The attainment of a college degree opens many career opportunities. | His success in the competition made him very proud. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B1 | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | 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 | amazing, considerable, extraordinary, be, constitute, represent, achievement in, quite an achievement, high, individual, personal, level, standard, measure, gap, award, test, a feeling of achievement, a sense of achievement, a lack of achievement | academic attainment, social attainment, attainment goals, educational attainment, attainment levels | 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 | - | 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'. | Confusing 'achievement' with 'accomplishment' when used in similar contexts., Using 'achievements' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Not distinguishing between short-term and long-term achievements. | Confused with 'achievement' - attainment focuses on the process., Often used incorrectly as a verb - it's a noun., Misused in informal contexts - better for formal discussions. | 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 'achievement' in both formal and informal settings. It's suitable for discussions about school, career, or personal goals, but may not fit casual conversations about everyday events. | Commonly used in academic and professional contexts. Not suitable for casual conversation. | 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 Achievement vs Attainment vs Success
What's the difference between Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, and Success?
Accomplishment: Something you have achieved or succeeded in doing. Achievement: Something you have done successfully. Attainment: Achieving a goal or something desired. Success: When you achieve something you wanted to do.
Which is more formal: Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, and Success?
Attainment is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, and Success?
Success is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, and Success?
Accomplishment is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Accomplishment: Graduating from university was a significant accomplishment for my family. Achievement: Winning the championship was a great achievement for the team. Attainment: The attainment of a college degree opens many career opportunities. Success: His success in the competition made him very proud.
Can I use Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, and Success interchangeably?
Not always. Accomplishment, Achievement, Attainment, 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.