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
There are no assurances regarding the success of these efforts.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Reuters reported in May that the $925 billion PIF was weighing a reorganization, aiming to sharpen its focus on investments that have a higher chance of success.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
When Salomon rebuilt the Stance 96 last year, the iconic French brand redirected its focus toward off-piste freeride terrain with astonishing success.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Their success or failure in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law will heavily determine global democracy’s outlook in the coming years.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for success 
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Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Reuters reported in May that the $925 billion PIF was weighing a reorganization, aiming to sharpen its focus on investments that have a higher chance of success.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
When Salomon rebuilt the Stance 96 last year, the iconic French brand redirected its focus toward off-piste freeride terrain with astonishing success.
—Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Their success or failure in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law will heavily determine global democracy’s outlook in the coming years.
—Larry Diamond, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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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