achieved

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "achieved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express something tangible or intangible that has been accomplished or attained through effort. For example, "After months of hard work, she had finally achieved her goal of finishing college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Books

Film

Travel

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Discover how they achieved that specific Heineken taste, marvel at 140 years of beer advertising, or get 'brewed' yourself in a 4D movie.

The Guardian - Travel

Since the two sides sat down to negotiate an end to Colombia's 50-year-old internal conflict, the negotiators have achieved more progress than any previous effort to broker peace.

The Guardian

"The Farc need to understand that peace is not achieved by stepping up their violent actions," he said.

The Guardian

Thus it was able to predict "double-digit" enhancement to earnings in the first year of ownership; if achieved, that would be a good start.

The Guardian

It would be a further disturbing paradox if, having achieved this, she then takes France further to the right than it has ever been in the past 70 years.

The Guardian

It has achieved its objectives and Angela receives dividends.

The Guardian

And Caitlyn (Jenner, formally Bruce, if you really haven't been paying attention), who revealed her new identity on the cover of Vanity Fair this week, has achieved this feat in less than one week.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Refusing to adopt the traditional role of editor as de haut en bas authority, Hamilton has achieved something that feels not unlike a crowdsourced anthology.

The Guardian - Books

They rose blissfully above the backstage tensions and excoriating reviews, producing an acting masterclass that surpassed anything they actually achieved in the film.

The Guardian - Film

But if that primitive resonance is not achieved, storytellers are failing to fulfil what is perhaps their primary function, which is therapeutic – to act as an echo chamber to our deepest fears and desires, and thus help to integrate them into a healthy personality.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In football, this kind of ownership is achieved by supporting a team; its history becomes bound up with personal history, done and done.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "achieved" to emphasize the successful completion of a goal or task that required effort or skill. For instance, "She achieved excellent results through hard work."

Common error

Avoid using "achieved" in contexts where simpler verbs like "did" or "got" would suffice. Overusing "achieved" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "achieved" is as a verb, typically in the past tense or as a past participle. It signifies the successful completion or attainment of a goal, objective, or desired outcome, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

15%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Books

8%

Film

7%

Travel

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "achieved" is a versatile verb widely used to denote the successful completion of a goal or attainment of a desired outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and sports-related content. While generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overuse in simple contexts where more direct verbs would be suitable. Semantically similar alternatives include "accomplished", "attained", and "reached", offering nuanced options for expressing accomplishment. By following the best practices and avoiding common errors, writers can effectively leverage "achieved" to convey a sense of success and attainment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accomplished

Emphasizes the successful completion of something.

attained

Highlights reaching a specific goal or level.

reached

Focuses on arriving at a destination or endpoint.

fulfilled

Suggests satisfying a requirement or expectation.

realized

Implies making something a reality or achieving a potential.

obtained

Focuses on gaining or acquiring something, often through effort.

secured

Highlights ensuring or guaranteeing a particular outcome.

gained

Emphasizes the act of acquiring something, often an advantage.

completed

Highlights the action of finishing a task or project.

brought about

Indicates causing something to happen or be achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "achieved" in a sentence?

You can use "achieved" to describe the successful completion of a goal or task, such as, "The company achieved record profits this year" or "She achieved her dream of becoming a doctor".

What can I say instead of "achieved"?

You can use alternatives like "accomplished", "attained", or "reached" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "achieved" and "accomplished"?

While both "achieved" and "accomplished" refer to successfully completing something, "achieved" often implies reaching a specific goal or standard, while "accomplished" emphasizes the skill or effort involved.

Which is correct, "achieved" or "obtained"?

"Achieved" and "obtained" are both correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Achieved" implies effort and skill, while "obtained" simply means to get or acquire something, with or without effort.