What does successfully mean?
Successfully is an adverb meaning that an action or endeavor has achieved its intended result. It is commonly used with verbs such as complete, launch, manage, perform, resolve, and handle, and it may stand as a sentence adverb in formal reports or news coverage. For example, a programme might be described as successfully launched or successfully completed. The word generally presents the outcome positively and implies that the desired objective was attained, though it does not explain precisely how that result was achieved. Successful is the corresponding adjective, while successfully indicates the manner of an action. Successfully belongs to the word family of success, a word descended through Latin from roots associated with proceeding, advancing, and accomplishing rather than merely happening or failing.
adverbIn a manner that achieves the desired result or completes an intended task. It indicates that something was carried out successfully.
- With the desired result achieved; in a successful manner.
"After several attempts, the team successfully completed the experiment without compromising the original plan."
"She successfully negotiated the contract without making any concessions."
"The new system has been successfully deployed across all departments."
One satisfying word carries the whole verdict: it says not merely that an attempt happened, but that it worked.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does successfully come from?
The adverb was formed from the adjective successful, which in turn derives from success. Success comes through Old French from Latin successus, a noun meaning an advance, good outcome, or accomplishment, formed from succedere, meaning to proceed after or follow. The same Latin roots also account for words such as successor, succession, and consecutive.
Related word forms
How successfully is actually used
This is a standard formal and informal adverb. It is especially common in reports and news coverage, where it states the outcome of an action without requiring further explanation.
Easily confused with successfully
Successful is an adjective that describes a person, thing, or outcome, whereas successfully is an adverb describing how an action or outcome was achieved.