success */*/*/

UK [səkˈses] / US noun
Word forms "success":
singular success plural successes

Metaphor:

Being successful is like being high up. Failing is like falling or being low down. The biography mainly dealt with his years at the top. ♦ Many people commented on his rapid ascent up the ladder. ♦ Their new album climbed/rose to second position in the charts. ♦ They are riding high in the opinion polls. ♦ They are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment. ♦ She is at the peak/pinnacle of her career. ♦ Not many people reach those dizzy heights. ♦ The government fell from power. ♦ We are studying the fall of the Roman Empire. ♦ His political ambition led to his downfall. ♦ The Wall Street crash took place in 1929. ♦ After that, she hit rock bottom. ♦ Another leading player has been toppled in the tournament. ♦ His comments went down like a lead balloon. ♦ A year later his career nosedived. ♦ Another dot.com is about to bite the dust. ➡ achieve, important, organization, power, proud, quantity, win

1) [uncountable] the achievement of something that you planned to do or attempted to do

Thorough preparation will increase your chances of success.

The school has had a lot of success with its basic literacy programme.

success of:

The success of the campaign depends heavily on the work of volunteers.

success in (doing) something:

How do you explain their success in reducing violent crime?

little/limited/mixed/moderate success:

I've had mixed success preparing the dish in the microwave.

success rate:

a fertility treatment with a success rate of around 60%

2) [countable] a plan or an attempt that achieves good results

Our department has had several impressive successes in the past year.

a big/great/huge success:

The party was a huge success.

make a success of something:

She set up her own business and made a success of it.

3)

a) [uncountable] the fact that you are successful in your career or profession, especially when you become rich, famous, respected etc

Jorie enjoyed great success with her second book of poems.

Advertising has played a big part in the restaurant's success.

b) [countable] someone who achieves a lot, especially by becoming rich, famous, respected etc

She turned out to be a success at marketing.

an overnight success (= someone who becomes a success quickly):

The band became an overnight success.