Crossword Dictionary
ACHIEVE
achieve, accomplish, attain, reach - v
to gain with effort; "she achieved her goal despite setbacks"
Synonyms
attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) [chiefly British], gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, win, accomplish, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through
Examples
“Assuming she'd done all she was supposed to in order to achieve her goal, she would know his location within minutes.â€
“It is true that there is much disagreement over how to achieve these ideals, but the fact remains we want a just society for all.â€
“How he expected to achieve that by feigning interest in the goats was a mystery, but at least he cared enough to make an effort.â€
Etymology
early 14c., "to perform, execute, accomplish;" late 14c., "gain as a result of effort," from Old French achever (12c.) "to finish, accomplish, complete," from phrase à chef (venir) "at an end, finished," or Vulgar Latin *accapare, from Late Latin ad caput (venire); both the French and Late Latin phrases meaning literally "to come to a head," from ad "to" (see ad-) + stem of Latin caput "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head").