What does achievable mean?
Achievable is an adjective describing something that can be realistically accomplished or attained given the effort, skills, or resources available. It is most often applied to goals, targets, ambitions, and objectives, particularly in professional planning, project management, and personal development contexts, where distinguishing between what is merely desirable and what is actually achievable is considered essential to success. The word carries a practical, encouraging tone: calling something achievable suggests optimism grounded in realism rather than empty hope. It derives from the verb achieve, which entered English from Old French achiver, itself rooted in the phrase a chief, meaning 'to a head' — that is, to bring something to completion. Related terms include attainable, feasible, and realistic, though achievable specifically emphasizes accomplishment through effort rather than mere possibility. Its opposite, unachievable, marks aims beyond reach. Because it frames ambition in concrete, actionable terms, achievable remains one of the most widely used words in modern goal-setting vocabulary.
adjectiveCapable of being achieved, accomplished, or attained; within reach of one's ability or effort.
- (of a goal, target, or result) able to be successfully reached or accomplished with available effort, skill, or resources.
"With careful planning and steady effort, the deadline was still achievable."
"Breaking the project into smaller tasks made the overall objective feel far more achievable."
"The committee set an ambitious but achievable fundraising target for the year."
Achievable traces back to the same root as 'chief' — a goal is achievable when it can be brought to your head's (chief's) hand, literally.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of achievable
Achievable derives from the verb achieve, which came into English from Old French achever ('to bring to a head, complete'), formed from the phrase a chief ('to a head'), from Latin caput ('head'). The adjective form developed later by adding the suffix -able, indicating capacity or worthiness. Cognate forms sharing this lineage include achievement, chief, and mischief, all tracing back to the same Latin root caput.
How achievable is actually used
Achievable carries a pragmatic, encouraging connotation and is common in business, education, and self-improvement contexts. It frequently appears in discussions of goal-setting, where 'specific, measurable, achievable' criteria are standard. It pairs naturally with words like goal, target, aim, and objective.
Easily confused with achievable
Approachable describes a person or place that is friendly or easy to reach socially or physically, while achievable refers only to goals that can be accomplished.