1
a
: degree or measure of succeeding
b
: favorable or desired outcome
also
: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
2
: one that succeeds
Examples of success in a Sentence
An enormous popular and critical success, The Liars' Club was credited with (or blamed for) launching a new wave of memoir-writing. (Karr deflects this accusation: "I think memoir started with St. Augustine," she told Salon in 1997.)
—
Mollie Wilson O'Reilly, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
Fred tries to keep up his end of the conversation, but without much success; he has never grown bulbs, cooked veal, seen a film by Fassbinder, etc. He feels provincial and out of it …
—Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs, 2006
Since I was interested in finding out about the successes as well as the failures disabled women experience in the world, I interviewed women who had some work experience, although it was often part-time work and sometimes interrupted.
—Mary Grimley Mason, Working Against Odds, 2004
The necessaries of life for man in this climate may, accurately enough, be distributed under the several heads of Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel; for not till we have secured these are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success.
—Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
Success came easily to him.
She is country music's most recent success.
The growth of the tourism industry is one of the city's great successes.
Mollie Wilson O'Reilly, Commonweal, 23 Oct. 2009
Fred tries to keep up his end of the conversation, but without much success; he has never grown bulbs, cooked veal, seen a film by Fassbinder, etc. He feels provincial and out of it …
—Alison Lurie, Foreign Affairs, 2006
Since I was interested in finding out about the successes as well as the failures disabled women experience in the world, I interviewed women who had some work experience, although it was often part-time work and sometimes interrupted.
—Mary Grimley Mason, Working Against Odds, 2004
The necessaries of life for man in this climate may, accurately enough, be distributed under the several heads of Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel; for not till we have secured these are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success.
—Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
Success came easily to him.
She is country music's most recent success.
The growth of the tourism industry is one of the city's great successes.
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the lessons from the Austin PSP program is the multiplication effect that supporting the success of parenting students can have.
—Edward Conroy, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Wambaugh chose next to delve into nonfiction, enjoying his greatest success in 1973 with The Onion Field.
—Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Ruth embodies determination, while breaking down barriers and overcoming hurdles on her path to success.
—Alexandra Harbert, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Money & Markets 10 high-paying and fast-growing jobs that don't require a college degree
There are lots of great fields out there for people who didn't go to college
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For many, the path to success starts with obtaining a college degree.
—Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for success
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Edward Conroy, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Wambaugh chose next to delve into nonfiction, enjoying his greatest success in 1973 with The Onion Field.
—Chris Koseluk, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
Ruth embodies determination, while breaking down barriers and overcoming hurdles on her path to success.
—Alexandra Harbert, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Money & Markets 10 high-paying and fast-growing jobs that don't require a college degree
There are lots of great fields out there for people who didn't go to college
By
Start Slideshow
Start Slideshow
For many, the path to success starts with obtaining a college degree.
—Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for success
Cite this Entry
“Success.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
success
noun
suc·cess
sək-ˈses 
1
a
: degree or measure of succeeding
b
: satisfactory completion of something
c
: the gaining of wealth, respect, or fame
2
: a person or thing that succeeds
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