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
McVay, in his eighth season as the Rams coach, has mostly enjoyed success against the Cardinals in the venue.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
In this fast-changing digital landscape, adaptability is the cornerstone of success.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
While Oliver celebrates the success of his hockey puck passer, his attention now is directed toward the next Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
Wade is not an NBA prospect, but has enjoyed success in college.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for success 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025
In this fast-changing digital landscape, adaptability is the cornerstone of success.
—Melissa Houston, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
While Oliver celebrates the success of his hockey puck passer, his attention now is directed toward the next Greater San Diego Science & Engineering Fair.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025
Wade is not an NBA prospect, but has enjoyed success in college.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 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 18 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share