Accomplishments are achievements or gains resulting from effort, skill, or perseverance. They typically denote notable progress or successes over time, often recognized or celebrated. The plural noun emphasizes multiple such outcomes in a person’s career, life, or projects, and is commonly used in formal or evaluative contexts.
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US: rhotic r-sj; UK/AU: non-rhotic; length and clarity of vowel sounds vary by speaker. Emphasize the second syllable with a crisp /ˈkɒm/; use a tight /pl/ to connect /m/ to /ɪ/. Vowel quality: /ɒ/ as in cot in UK; US cot-vs-caught split can influence the sound in some dialects. In US, the final /ənts/ tends to be reduced slightly in fast speech, but keep the /ə/ before /nts/ for clarity. In UK, ensure a clean schwa before the stressed syllable, then a short /ɒ/ for the /ɒm/ portion. In AU, similar to UK but with slight vowel height adjustments; maintain non-rhoticity in careful speech.
"Her career path is full of accomplishments, from published research to leadership roles."
"The award highlighted his numerous accomplishments during the year."
"We can review your accomplishments to quantify overall impact for the report."
"Her list of accomplishments was impressive, spanning both academic and community work."
Accomplishments derives from the verb accomplish, which comes from Middle French achever, meaning to finish, complete, or fulfill, and ultimately from the Latin ad capere meaning to take to oneself, seize. The English suffix -ment marks nouns formed from verbs, indicating the result or product of the action. The word was established in English in the 15th century, originally in references to completing tasks or reaching goals. Over time, the meaning broadened to include notable deeds and achievements. In modern use, accomplishments emphasize recognizable outcomes and successful outcomes rather than mere attempts. The plural form accomplishments appeared as pluralized noun to refer to multiple completed tasks or achievements, often in professional or academic contexts. First known uses can be traced in formal writing in the 16th–17th centuries, with evolving nuance through the industrial and informational eras as professional credentials and career milestones became central markers of success.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "accomplishments" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "accomplishments"
-ent sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /əˈkɒm.plɪʃ.mənts/ in US and /əkˈɒm.plɪʃ.mənts/ in UK/ AU. Primary stress falls on the second syllable: ac-COM-plish-ments. Start with a schwa before the stressed syllable, then a short, clipped ‘kom’ with the back of the tongue, followed by the ‘pli’ as in ‘plish’ with a light L, and end with ‘mənts’ where the m and nt cluster are smooth and the final s is pluralized. Visualize the sequence: uh-KOM-pli-sh-ments. A quick audio check helps ensure the rhythm aligns with noun plural stress.
Common errors: misplacing the primary stress (say ac-COM-plish-ments incorrectly); omitting the middle syllable sound as in ‘kom-’ or simplifying to ‘ac-complish-ments’; mispronouncing the final cluster by adding an extra vowel or breaking the nt into separate sounds. Correction tips: keep the -om- as a tight, single syllable with short o; ensure the ‘pli’ is light with an L transition; end with a clear -ments, avoiding an unnecessary extra vowel between m and ents. Practice with slow syllable-by-syllable drilling to lock the rhythm.
In US English, you’ll hear /əˈkɒm.plɪʃ.mənts/ with rhotic r-like flavor only in connected speech; UK and AU typically use /əkˈɒm.plɪʃ.mənts/ with non-rhoticity in careful speech. UK vowels may be slightly shorter and crisper, and the final -ments may be pronounced closer to /ments/ with less vowel intrusion. AU often mirrors UK with subtle vowel height adjustments; in connected speech, the rhythm remains ac-COM-plish-ments, but elision or vowel length can vary by speaker. For all, the middle syllable bears the main stress and the sequence should remain tight and fluid.
Two main challenges: the multisyllabic rhythm with a heavy second syllable and the final -ments cluster, which often gets vowelized or misordered when quickly spoken. The /kɒm/ and /plɪʃ/ sequences require precise tongue tension, and the transition from /pl/ to /ɪ/ can create a gliding vowel error. Practice focusing on the exact place of articulation for /k/ and /m/ and the quick, tight /pl/ blend into /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. Eyes-on-articulation and slow delivery help stabilize the cluster.
The /l/ in accomplishments is pronounced, following the standard English /pl/ cluster after /ɒm/. Do not reduce or omit the /l/; keep a light, clear L that transitions smoothly from the /m/ to the /pl/ start of the /plɪ/ portion. In careful speech you’ll hear a crisp /plɪ/ rather than an elided /pɪ/ or /p/ without /l/. Maintaining the /l/ helps keep the syllable rhythm correct and prevents missegmentation into ac-com-pli-ments.
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# Master Guide for Accomplishments
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