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
Finding the right head coach to lead an organization to long-term success is a challenging endeavor.
—Mark Lasota, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Focus Features Gory and gruesome, The Substance was never a shoo-in for mainstream success.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025
Following the success of Le Lion Rouge, which has already become a landmark stay in Rougemont since its opening last spring, Chalet Saanen has similarly begun attracting a new wave of design enthusiasts to Saanan.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
The success of the jingle and online campaign led Taco Bell to bring back the menu item in May.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for success 
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Mark Lasota, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Focus Features Gory and gruesome, The Substance was never a shoo-in for mainstream success.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 23 Jan. 2025
Following the success of Le Lion Rouge, which has already become a landmark stay in Rougemont since its opening last spring, Chalet Saanen has similarly begun attracting a new wave of design enthusiasts to Saanan.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2025
The success of the jingle and online campaign led Taco Bell to bring back the menu item in May.
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for success
Dictionary Entries Near success
Cite this Entry
“Success.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success. Accessed 1 Feb. 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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