Successful

Successful is an adjective used to describe someone or something that has achieved the aims or criteria that were set, or that has produced desirable, favorable results. It is commonly applied to people, projects, plans, or ventures that meet predefined standards of achievement. The term emphasizes outcome relative to an objective rather than mere activity.

Etymology and usage context: Successful derives from Latin successus, through Old French succès, with its English adoption in the Middle Ages. In modern English, it signals a positive result within a given context and time frame. The word is often used with modifiers to indicate degree, such as more successful or highly successful, and it is paired with nouns like career, project, or launch.

Usage notes and examples: Common collocations include a successful career, a successful outcome, a successful candidate, and a successful business. In reporting, saying a venture was successful typically implies that key goals were achieved, though it does not necessarily guarantee long-term sustainability or universal approval. The adjective is contrasted with unsuccessful or failing, and with synonyms such as prosperous, thriving, or effective, depending on nuance.

Related terms: The noun form is success, and the adverb form is successfully. The term may be qualified by context (e.g., financially successful, scientifically successful) to clarify the domain of achievement. Overall, successful conveys positive evaluation contingent on specific objectives and criteria.