Wiktionary

success

See also: Success

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin successus, from succēdō (“succeed”), from sub- (“next to”) + cēdō (“go, move”). Partly displaced native Old English spēd, whence Modern English speed.

Pronunciation

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  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /səkˈsɛs/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Noun

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success (countable and uncountable, plural successes)

  1. The achievement of one's aim or goal. [from 16th c.]
    Antonym: failure
    His third attempt to pass the entrance exam was a success.
    a glowing success
    • 1956 December 24, Cornelia Otis Skinner, “Women are misguided: They are still waging a shrill, ridiculous war over the dead issue of feminism”, in Life, volume 41, number 26, page 75:
      Actually there was recently a talented young female bassoonist who gave up a promising career on that sturdy instrument, not to do something more feminine but to take up bullfighting. This is Patricia Hayes of San Angelo, Texas, who has had spectacular success in the arenas of Mexico and Portugal. Unfortunately she is not America's only matadoress.
    • 2015 May 12, Alexandra Jaffe, “First on CNN: New Rove-linked group spends $2M to boost GOP incumbents”, in CNN‎[1]:
      Republicans are launching a new nonprofit group to highlight the legislative successes of its vulnerable incumbents with a $2 million advertising blitz touting the work of five vulnerable GOP senators to protect Medicare.
  2. (business) Financial profitability.
    Don't let success go to your head.
    • 2013 September 24, Noreena Hertz, “Noreena Hertz: Don’t get stuck in your own success”, in CNN‎[2]:
      Instead Nokia decided better to stick with what they knew worked - good, solid, reliable mobile phones of the kind that had brought them success until then.
  3. One who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.
    Scholastically, he was a success.
    The new range of toys has been a resounding success.
    • 1998, Gavin Dillard, In the Flesh: Undressing for Success, page 141:
      There have been other drugs since reticulose that I became aware of the successes of, some even able to claim "cure," even turning people from HIV-positive to negative.
    • 2020 June 3, Sam Mullins OBE discusses with Stefanie Foster, “LTM: a new chapter begins at 40”, in Rail, page 53:
      There have been some surprising successes, though - the LTM's [London Transport Museum's] online gift shop is currently selling 75% more products during lockdown than it was in the same period last year.
    • 2021 December 1, “Network News: Freightliner claims emissions success”, in RAIL, number 945, page 15:
      Freightliner says trials with a new lower-emission fuel for its diesel fleet have been a success, raising its credentials as a supporter of reducing greenhouse gases.
  4. The fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.
    She is country music's most recent success.
  5. (obsolete) Something which happens as a consequence; the outcome or result. [16th–18th c.]

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Further reading

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