define success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "define success" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the meaning or criteria of success in various contexts, such as personal goals, business objectives, or academic achievements. For example, "Before we proceed, let's define success for this project." Alternative expressions include "describe success" and "explain success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What would define success?

Harvard Business Review

Let's define success concretely.

Stanford University

It depends on how you define "success".

The New York Times - Magazine

Data to set goals and define success.

The Guardian - Money

How to define success, though, isn't obvious.

The New York Times - Arts

It depends how you define success.

The Guardian - Film

And how would you define "success"?

University of California, Berkeley

So, how do I define success?

Stanford University

Let technical experts help define success.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The question is: "How do you define success?

The Guardian - Money

But it depends on how you define "success".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase in the initial stages of a project or personal reflection to align expectations before work begins.

Common error

When you "define success", ensure you are describing the external conditions or metrics that indicate a win, rather than simply restating the word success as its own meaning (e.g. "success is when we succeed"). Be specific about values, figures or qualitative shifts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "define success" functions as a transitive verb phrase where "define" acts as the action and "success" as the direct object. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often appears in the imperative mood for advice or the infinitive form to express intent. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically sound and standard English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "define success" is a highly effective and versatile linguistic tool used to set parameters for achievement. Through Ludwig AI analysis of over 60 high-quality examples, it is clear that this expression is a staple in Business, Academia and News & Media. It encourages clarity and intentionality, whether in a high-stakes corporate project or personal goal setting. Sources like The New York Times and Stanford University frequently utilize the phrase to challenge standard notions of victory or to provide rigorous frameworks for evaluation. Ultimately, using "define success" is an essential step in any strategic or reflective process, ensuring that the desired outcome is not just hoped for but clearly understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

define what success looks like

Adds a descriptive and visual element to the goal-setting process

measure success

Shifts the focus from conceptualizing to quantifying results

determine success

Implies an evaluative process to see if goals were met

establish success criteria

More formal and technical, typically used in project management

set success metrics

Directly links success to specific data points or KPIs

identify success factors

Focuses on the specific elements that lead to a positive outcome

conceptualize success

Emphasizes the philosophical or abstract understanding of achievement

frame success

Suggests a specific perspective or context for viewing achievement

articulate success

Focuses on the verbal or written communication of goals

redefine success

Indicates a change or evolution in previously established goals

FAQs

How do I use "define success" in a sentence?

You can use it in professional settings like "We need to "define success concretely" before we allocate the budget" or personal contexts such as "I prefer to "define success" on my own terms."

What can I say instead of "define success"?

Depending on your focus, you can use alternatives like "measure success", "establish benchmarks" or "quantify achievement".

Is it "define success" or "define successful"?

The correct phrase is "define success", as "define" is a transitive verb that requires a noun like "success" as its object. "Successful" is an adjective and would be used in a phrase like "define what makes a person "successful"".

What is the difference between "define success" and "measure success"?

To "define success" is to establish the theoretical criteria or goals, while to "measure success" is to use data or tools to see if those established goals have actually been reached.