What does accomplish mean?
Accomplish is a verb meaning to succeed in doing or completing something, particularly a task, goal, or undertaking that requires effort. It implies not merely finishing an activity but bringing it to a successful, intended conclusion: one accomplishes a mission, a project, or an ambition. The word carries a positive connotation of achievement and is common in both everyday and formal contexts, appearing frequently in phrases such as 'accomplish a goal', 'accomplish a task', and the well-known expression 'mission accomplished'. It is somewhat more elevated than plain alternatives like 'do' or 'finish', lending weight to statements about what has been achieved. Derived forms include the adjective 'accomplished', often used to describe someone highly skilled, and the noun 'accomplishment', denoting either the act of achieving something or the achievement itself. Rooted in medieval Latin via Old French, the word reflects a long history of describing the fulfilment of purpose.
verbTo bring to a successful end; to complete or achieve something, especially a task, goal, or piece of work.
- To succeed in doing or completing something, especially after effort.
- To bring a plan, task, or aim to its intended conclusion.
"She managed to accomplish all her goals before the end of the year."
"The team accomplished the migration ahead of schedule."
"He felt he had accomplished little that day despite working from dawn to dusk."
The phrase 'mission accomplished' became so iconic that it has been used by political leaders for over a century — sometimes with triumphant results, and sometimes with famously premature ones.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of accomplish
Accomplish entered English in the late Middle Ages, borrowed from Old French 'acomplir', which itself derives from Latin 'complere', meaning 'to fill up' or 'to complete'. The prefix 'ad-' ('to') was added to 'complere' to convey the sense of bringing something fully to completion. It shares this Latin root with words such as 'complete', 'comply', and 'complement'. The noun 'accomplishment' followed soon after, and the adjective 'accomplished' developed the extended sense of being highly skilled or polished.
Related word forms
How accomplish is actually used
Accomplish is slightly more formal than 'do' or 'finish' and carries a connotation of deliberate effort and successful outcome. It is typically used with tasks, goals, missions, and feats rather than with casual everyday actions. In American English the spelling is identical; only the vowel of the second syllable differs in pronunciation.
Easily confused with accomplish
An accomplice is a person who helps another commit a crime, whereas accomplish is a verb meaning to complete or achieve something.
Complete emphasizes finishing every part of something, while accomplish emphasizes successfully achieving an intended result.