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
As a business owner, fostering an environment that promotes positivity, whether through workplace culture, networking, or personal mindset, can directly impact financial decision-making and success.
—Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Gay felt confident that success awaited her in Atlanta, where many movies and TV series are filmed.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
The success of the film hinged not only on Craig's new take on the role, but also on Eva Green as his love interest, Vesper Lynd — the rare Bond girl that really could last.
—EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
There are several factors to consider when sowing seeds for a higher success rate and producing hardy plants.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for success
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Shane Enete, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Gay felt confident that success awaited her in Atlanta, where many movies and TV series are filmed.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
The success of the film hinged not only on Craig's new take on the role, but also on Eva Green as his love interest, Vesper Lynd — the rare Bond girl that really could last.
—EW.com, 23 Mar. 2025
There are several factors to consider when sowing seeds for a higher success rate and producing hardy plants.
—Lauren David, Southern Living, 23 Mar. 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 28 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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