Dictionary / success
success
- noun
- from Latin
The achievement of one's aim or goal.
1 All current definitions
Every sense of “success” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.
noun
- countableuncountableThe achievement of one's aim or goal.
His third attempt to pass the entrance exam was a success.
- countableuncountableFinancial profitability.
Don't let success go to your head.
- countableuncountableOne who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.
Scholastically, he was a success.
- countableuncountableThe fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.
She is country music's most recent success.
Older & obsolete senses (1)
- countableobsoleteuncountableSomething which happens as a consequence; the outcome or result.
Cross-check: WordNet senses (4)
- nounan event that accomplishes its intended purpose
- nounan attainment that is successful
- nouna state of prosperity or fame
- nouna person with a record of successes — also: achiever, winner, succeeder
Synonyms: éclat
2 History of the word
The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.
The word’s journey, newest to oldest:
- English (today)success
- Latinsuccessus
- Latinsuccēdō “succeed”
- Latinsub- “next to” + cēdō “go, move”
Learned borrowing from Latin successus, from succēdō (“succeed”), from sub- (“next to”) + cēdō (“go, move”).
Derivatives — words built from “success”
Phrases & compounds
Want to go deeper? See also “success” on Etymonline ↗
3 Original language
Where “success” came from before it was English.
4 Original meaning
What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.
Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913
A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.
success n. [L. successus: cf. F. succ. See Succeed.]
- Act of succeeding; succession.
- That which comes after; hence, consequence, issue, or result, of an endeavor or undertaking, whether good or bad; the outcome of effort.
- The favorable or prosperous termination of anything attempted; the attainment of a proposed object; prosperous issue.
- That which meets with, or one who accomplishes, favorable results, as a play or a player.
5 Use it with confidence
Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.
nounMeaning: The achievement of one's aim or goal.
His third attempt to pass the entrance exam was a success.
a glowing success
nounMeaning: Financial profitability.
Don't let success go to your head.
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.2013 September 24, Noreena Hertz, “Noreena Hertz: Don’t get stuck in your own success”, in CNN:
nounMeaning: One who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.
Scholastically, he was a success.
The new range of toys has been a resounding success.
nounMeaning: The fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame.
She is country music's most recent success.
nounMeaning: an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
let's call heads a success and tails a failure
the election was a remarkable success for the Whigs
nounMeaning: an attainment that is successful
his success in the marathon was unexpected
his new play was a great success
nounMeaning: a state of prosperity or fame
he is enjoying great success
he does not consider wealth synonymous with success
nounMeaning: a person with a record of successes
if you want to be a success you have to dress like a success
Three steps to owning it
- Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
- Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
- Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?
6 The mastery game
Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.
Say it, then spell it
success
/səkˈsɛs/
Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.
Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________
success
/səkˈsɛs/ · noun
Step 1 — Say it and write it
Say “success” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.
Step 2 — Know every meaning
Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.
Step 3 — Which meaning is it?
“His third attempt to pass the entrance exam was a success.”
Circle the meaning used.
“Don't let success go to your head.”
Circle the meaning used.
“Scholastically, he was a success.”
Circle the meaning used.
Step 4 — History and origin
Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):
Write three words built from “success” and what each means:
Step 5 — Original meaning
The earliest traceable form is Latin succēdō. What did it mean?
How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?
Step 6 — Use it yourself
☐ I can explain its meanings ☐ I know its history ☐ I know its original language ☐ I know its original meaning ☐ I can use it confidently
Answer key — success
Which meaning, sentence 1: B. The achievement of one's aim or goal.
Which meaning, sentence 2: A. Financial profitability.
Which meaning, sentence 3: A. One who, or that which, achieves assumed goals.
Origin: A. Latin (Latin successus)
Journey: English success ← Latin successus ← Latin succēdō ← Latin sub- + cēdō
Some derivatives: insuccess, nonsuccess, successantly, successful, successfully, successism, successless, succsex
Original meaning: Latin succēdō — “succeed”
Built from: sub- “next to” + cēdō “go, move”
Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin successus, from succēdō (“succeed”), from sub- (“next to”) + cēdō (“go, move”).
Sources: Wiktionary “success” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/success#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/success