Word family noun success succession successor adjective successful ≠ unsuccessful successive verb succeed adverb successfully ≠ unsuccessfully
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsuccessfulsuc‧cess‧ful /səkˈsesfəl/ ●●● S2 W1 adjective 1 EFFECTIVEachieving what you wanted, or having the effect or result you intended The operation was successful. a highly successful (=very successful) meetingsuccessful in (doing) something Were you successful in persuading him to change his mind?2 BBSUCCESSFULa successful business, film, product etc makes a lot of money The show’s had a pretty successful run. a highly successful (=very successful) product3 SUCCESSFULa successful person earns a lot of money or is very well known and respected Arthur was a highly successful (=very successful) businessman.successful in He later became successful in politics.successful as I think she’ll be successful as a photographer. —successfully adverb He successfully completed a master’s degree.THESAURUSsuccessful achieving what you wanted, or having the effect or result you intendedHe applied for a visa three times and in the end he was successful.The treatment was successful.It was a highly successful campaign.effective having the effect or result that was wanted – used especially about treatments, drugs, or methodsThe drug is effective against a range of diseases.We still haven't found an effective way to solve the problem.victorious successful as a result of winning in a game, election, war etcthe captain of the victorious teamShe emerged victorious in the second round of voting.promising likely to be very successful in the future, used especially about someone who is good at a job, sport, art etca promising young athlete He gave up a promising career in banking.thriving very successful – used about a company, industry, or organization that is doing well at a particular timeThe area has a thriving tourist industry.The school is thriving academically.booming extremely successful – used about an economy, or when business or trade is increasingthe booming economy in ChinaBusiness is booming. Examples from the Corpus
successful• The scheme was started in January 2000, and has prove largely successful.• The surgery was successful.• Their new advertising campaign has been very successful.• To be successful, a former member must have served on an influential committee and acquired expertise on controversial issues.• This has been Baltimore's most successful art show ever.• Gradually, word spread, and we built up a very successful business indeed.• Three years ago she married a successful businessman, and now she never sees her old friends.• a successful businessman• He wanted to get out of the old activist scene and transform himself into a modern, successful businessman.• it was a highly successful campaign.• a rich, successful entrepreneur• The case of Thailand illustrates why family planning programs have been so successful in many countries.• For twenty years, he was the head of a successful law firm.• Freire introduced highly successful literacy programs in Brazil.• So what makes a successful manager?• Our most successful product is based on a very simple idea.• He hated his field of work, at which he was actually quite successful professionally.• a small but successful program to boost the number of African-Americans getting into college• If the treatment is successful, she could be back at school next month.• Did you have a successful shopping trip?• After a long run in the band Genesis, he had a successful solo career.• It was one of the President's most successful speeches.• Eddie Murphy is one of Hollywood's most successful stars.• Another one trying to prevent the Federation descending into chaos; he would be no more successful than the Archon.• He returned to Merseyside after a successful tour with Johnny Gentle.• The better you know them, the more you can use them, the more successful you will be.highly successful• In spite of this generous beginning the financial management of Mary's reign was highly successful.• It is a highly successful adaptation of an advertisement which was first shown back in the early 1980s in Britain.• He was a highly successful businessman, a leader in a local evangelical church.• Already highly successful in popular music, dance and commercial television, blacks have found the movies a tougher nut to crack.• Southampton is already part of a highly successful privatised group of ports.• Continuing down this highly successful road should be a no-brainer.• Roman Holidays was highly successful world-wide.highly successful• In spite of this generous beginning the financial management of Mary's reign was highly successful.• It is a highly successful adaptation of an advertisement which was first shown back in the early 1980s in Britain.• He was a highly successful businessman, a leader in a local evangelical church.• Already highly successful in popular music, dance and commercial television, blacks have found the movies a tougher nut to crack.• Southampton is already part of a highly successful privatised group of ports.• Continuing down this highly successful road should be a no-brainer.• Roman Holidays was highly successful world-wide.highly successful• In spite of this generous beginning the financial management of Mary's reign was highly successful.• It is a highly successful adaptation of an advertisement which was first shown back in the early 1980s in Britain.• He was a highly successful businessman, a leader in a local evangelical church.• Already highly successful in popular music, dance and commercial television, blacks have found the movies a tougher nut to crack.• Southampton is already part of a highly successful privatised group of ports.• Continuing down this highly successful road should be a no-brainer.• Roman Holidays was highly successful world-wide. 