achieve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb to gain with effort
    accomplish; reach; attain.
    • she achieved her goal despite setbacks

WordNet

A*chieve" transitive verb
Etymology
OE. acheven, OF. achever, achiever, F. achever, to finish; à (L. ad) + OF. chief, F. chef, end, head, fr. L. caput head. See Chief.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Achieved present participle & verbal noun Achieving
Definitions
  1. To carry on to a final close; to bring out into a perfected state; to accomplish; to perform; -- as, to achieve a feat, an exploit, an enterprise.
    Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be achieved in any line by the aid of a capital, invigorating motive than without it. I. Taylor.
  2. To obtain, or gain, as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.
    Some are born great, some achieve greatness. Shak.
    Thou hast achieved our liberty. Milton.
    [Obs]., with a material thing as the aim.
    Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved. Prior.
    He hath achieved a maid That paragons description. Shak.
  3. To finish; to kill. Obs. Shak. Syn. -- To accomplish; effect; fulfill; complete; execute; perform; realize; obtain. See Accomplish.

Webster 1913