successful

adjective

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

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.
Studies show that optimists typically are happier, healthier, and more successful in life. Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 McKinley was indeed successful in raising large sums of money for the U.S. government several decades before the first national income tax was implemented. Rob Wile, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025 If those initial transplants are successful, then the company plans to grow the clinical trial to up to 50 patients. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025 The Wildcats, led by former TCU coach Jeff Mittie, were determined to make anyone besides the big three beat them and the Wildcats were ultimately successful. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near successful

Cite this Entry

“Successful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/successful. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

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 adverb
successfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on successful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!