Activity 2: Success

success noun

¹ good results

ADJ. considerable, conspicuous, enormous, great, notable, overwhelming, phenomenal, remarkable, spectacular, tremendous, unprecedented | limited, moderate, modest The campaign to stop drink-driving had only limited success. | popular, public | early, initial | immediate | long-term, short-term | business, commercial, economic, financial | academic, educational, electoral, literary, military, etc. | international The company’s excellent marketing has resulted in enormous international success.

QUANT. amount, degree Initially, the venture enjoyed a fair amount of success.

VERB + SUCCESS achieve, enjoy, have, notch up She had little success in getting new customers. He is keen to notch up yet another success. | bring A change of management failed to bring success. | end in, lead to, result in The year-long fight for a pay rise ended in success. | ensure, guarantee We can’t guarantee immediate success. | be vital to Your contribution was vital to the success of the concert.

SUCCESS + VERB come Success didn’t come overnight?she struggled for years before making any money. | lie (in sth) Much of his success lies in his skill in handling staff. | depend on sth The success or failure of the project depends on how committed the managers are.

SUCCESS + NOUN rate The operation has a success rate of over 80%. | story The company has been one of the success stories of the past decade.

PREP. without ~ She tried to persuade them without success. | ~ in I’ve had some success in getting rid of the weeds. | ~ with the secret of his success with women

PHRASES a chance/hope of success What are our chances of success? We’re trying to get him to sponsor us, but there’s not much hope of success. | confident of success She had worked hard and was confident of success. | the key to success, a lack of success, the secret of (sb’s) success, a symbol of (sb’s) success

² sth that achieves its aim

ADJ. big, complete, considerable, conspicuous, enormous, great, huge, major, notable, outstanding, phenomenal, popular, real, remarkable, resounding, roaring, runaway, spectacular, total, tremendous, unprecedented, unqualified The band’s new album has been a runaway success. | modest, qualified | business, commercial, economic, popular The book proved a major commercial success. | international | immediate

VERB + SUCCESS be, prove | have We had one or two outstanding successes. | judge sth The event was judged a success by its organizers. | make She’s made a real success of that job.

PHRASES wish sb (every) success We are sad to see Hiroko go, and wish her every success in the future.