achieve

Verb

achieve (third-person singular simple present achieves, present participle achieving, simple past and past participle achieved)

1. (transitive) To carry out or conclude (something, as a task) successfully; to accomplish.
   • to achieve one’s goals
   • Hannah achieved her lifelong dream of winning a medal at the Olympics.

   Synonyms:

   compass, fulfil, realize, walk away with

2. (transitive) To gain or obtain (a desired objective, result, etc.) through effort or skill; to succeed in attaining (an objective, result, etc.); to win.
   • And the frenche men entred in a mong the thyckeſt of them⸝ and ſpared no more to flee thẽ [them]⸝ than they had ben dogges⸝ and ſurely they had good cauſe ſo to do. For if yͤ flemynges had achyued the priſe ouer them⸝ they had bene ſerued of the ſame ſauce.1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe the Frenche Men that were Passed the Ryuer of Lyse⸝ Disconfyted the Flemyngꝭ [Flemyngis] and Slewe Many of Thẽ...
   • VVhy ſome are borne great, ſome atchieue greatneſſe, and ſome haue greatneſſe throvvne vpon them.c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

   Synonyms:

   attain, compass, get one's hands on, register

3. (transitive, archaic except literary) To obtain (a physical thing); to get.
   • Mon[tano]. But good Leiutenant, is your Generall vviu'd? / [Michael] Caſ[sio]. Moſt fortunately, he hath atchieu'd a maide, / That parragons deſcription, and vvild fame: […]c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act...
   • [U]s hitherto this Corner and ſecret receſſe hath defended, novv the Vttermoſt point of our Land is laid open: and things the leſſe they haue beene vvithin knovvledge, the greater the glorie is to atchieue them.1611, Iohn Speed [i.e., John Speed], “Flavius Domitian”, in The History of Great Britaine under the Conquests of yͤ Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. […], London: […] William Hall and John Beale...
4. (obsolete, transitive) To end or finish (something); to terminate; (specifically, military) to win (a battle or war).
   • So all theſe thynges tyme acheueth and burieth, but onely trouth, the whiche (of the tyme and of all thynge that is in the tyme) triumpheth, Neyther to be fauoured of the good, nor to be perſecuted of the ylle, may be, but that ſomtyme trouthe may be ſtopped and hydde, but whan it is diſpleaſed...1531 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), [Antonio de Guevara], “The Prologue”, in John Bourcher knyghte Lord Barners [i.e., John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners], transl., The Golden Boke of...
   • Bid them atchieue me, and then ſell my bones. / Good God, vvhy ſhould they mock good fellovvs thus? / The man that once did ſell the Lions skin, / VVhile the beaſt liued, vvas kild vvith hunting him.1599 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The Cronicle History of Henry the Fift, […] (First Quarto), London: […] Thomas Creede, for Tho[mas] Millington, and Iohn Busby […], published 1600, →OCLC...

   Synonyms:

   complete, conclude, finalize

5. (intransitive) To attain a goal; to succeed in something, now especially in academic performance; (generally) to make an effort; strive.
   • He could really achieve in school if he worked hard.
   • [He] Fights Dragon-like, and does atcheeue as ſoone / As dravv his Svvord: […]c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
6. (archaic, intransitive, literary) Followed by to: to attain a certain position, status, etc.
   • Spitz was a practised fighter. From Spitzbergen through the Arctic, and across Canada and the Barrens, he had held his own with all manner of dogs and achieved to mastery over them.1903 July, Jack London, “The Dominant Primordial Beast”, in The Call of the Wild, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC, pages 93–94
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To come to an end; conclude, end; also, to result, to turn out; or (uncommon) to be affected by fate in a certain way.
   • For god knoweth⸝ and ſo doth all other good townes⸝ that ye be ĩ [in] the ryght of this warre. Wherfore all your buſynes ſhall acheue the better.1523 February 7 (Gregorian calendar), Johan Froyssart [i.e., Jean Froissart], “Howe They of Jper and Courtray Turned to the Erle of Flaunders Parte⸝ and How the Towne of Gaunte was Besieged”, in Here...
   • The goddis unmortal haue made al thinges cõmunicable to mẽ mortal, except imortalite: ⁊ therfore they be callid ĩmortal, bicauſe they neuer dy, ⁊ we be called mortal and fallyng, bicauſe we all take an ende. […] O my frende Cincinate, thus acheueth the perſones, but the goodes neuer.1531 March 20 (date written; Gregorian calendar), [Antonio de Guevara], “A Letter Sente by Marc the Emperour to Cyncinatus His Frende, bycause He Beinge a Gentylman Became a Marchant. The .VII....