Cool MateSuccess vs Triumph
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Success
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Triumph
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Success
| Success | Triumph | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈses/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtraɪʌmf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtraɪʌmf/"]/ |
| Meaning | When you achieve something you wanted to do. | A great victory or success. |
| Example | His success in the competition made him very proud. | Winning the championship was a great triumph for the underdog team. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | 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 | great, major, real, score, hail something as, see something as, in triumph, triumph against, triumph for, a/somebody’s moment of triumph, a sense of triumph, a/somebody’s triumph over adversity, great, major, real, score, hail something as, see something as, in triumph, triumph against, triumph for, a/somebody’s moment of triumph, a sense of triumph, a/somebody’s triumph over adversity |
| Antonyms | failure, defeat, setback | defeat, failure, loss |
| Common mistakes | 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'. | Confusing with 'triumphant', which describes the feeling after a victory., Using it as a verb incorrectly, instead of the adjective form., Overusing it in minor achievements instead of reserving it for significant victories. |
| Usage notes | Use 'success' when talking about achieving goals or winning in a friendly context. Avoid using it in negative situations or as a mockery. | Used to describe a significant win or achievement, often in contexts like sports, competitions, or personal accomplishments. Less appropriate for casual, everyday situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Success vs Triumph
What's the difference between Success and Triumph?
Success: When you achieve something you wanted to do. Triumph: A great victory or success.
Which is more common: Success and Triumph?
Success is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Success and Triumph?
Triumph is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Success and Triumph the same CEFR level?
Success: A1, Triumph: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Success and Triumph?
Success: noun, Triumph: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Success: His success in the competition made him very proud. Triumph: Winning the championship was a great triumph for the underdog team.
Can I use Success and Triumph interchangeably?
Not always. Success and Triumph 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.