successful

adjective

suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce successful (audio)
Synonyms of successful
1
: resulting or terminating in success
a successful attempt
2
: gaining or having gained success
a successful investor
successfully
sək-ˈses-fə-lē How to pronounce successful (audio)
adverb
successfulness noun

Synonyms of successful

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Examples of successful in a Sentence

the play had a successful run on Broadway sold their successful dry-cleaning business and retired to Hawaii
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
DoorDash has emerged as the most successful stand-alone online delivery platform in America, commanding some two-thirds of all food-delivery volumes as of 2024, according to Bloomberg data. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026 If those studies prove successful, magnetomicrometry could help bridge the gap between the movements a person intends to make and the movements their prosthetic limb can reliably perform. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026 With a single successful 64-day mission, SpaceX ended all of that. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 Oct. 2026 Pippa and Alison bring hugely valuable and complementary perspectives, from the craft and ambition behind some of the world’s most successful film and television productions to the phenomenal growth of digital creators and new platforms. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for successful

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of successful was in 1594

Rhymes for successful

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Browse Nearby Words

success
successful
succession
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Cite this Entry

“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successful. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

successful

adjective
suc·​cess·​ful sək-ˈses-fəl How to pronounce successful (audio)
1
: resulting or ending in success
2
: gaining or having gained success
successfully
-fə-lē How to pronounce successful (audio)
adverb
successfulness noun
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