| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | bring to successful conclusion; reach a goal |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, acquire, actualize, attain, bring about, bring off, bring to pass, cap, carry out, carry through, close, complete, conclude, consummate, deliver, discharge, dispatch, do, earn, earn wings, effect, effectuate, enact, end, execute, finish, follow through, fulfill, gain, get, get done, manage, negotiate, obtain, perfect, perform, procure, produce, rack up, reach, realize, resolve, score, seal, see through, settle, sign, solve, win, wind up, work out |
| Notes: | achieve means 'to bring to a successful conclusion' (literally French 'to bring to a head') and accomplish means 'to perform fully'; the completion of achievement is more comprehensive |
| Antonyms: | fail, lose, miss |
| Main Entry: | acquire |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | obtain or receive |
| Synonyms: | access, achieve, amass, annex, attain, bring in, buy, catch, collect, cop, corral*, earn, gain, gather, get, get hands on, get hold of, grab, have, hustle, land, latch onto, lock up, pick up, procure, promote, rack up, scare up, secure, snag*, take, take possession of, wangle, win |
| Notes: | a person or thing is the subject of (acquire) the acquiring process; a person or thing is the object or goal of (accrue) the accruing process |
| Antonyms: | fail, forfeit, forgo, lose, relinquish, surrender, yield |
| Main Entry: | act |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | do something |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, achieve, begin, carry on, carry out, consummate, cook, create, develop, do, do a number, do one's thing, enforce, execute, function, get in there, go about, go for broke, go for it, go in for, go that route, go to town, intrude, knock off, labor, make progress, maneuver, move, officiate, operate, percolate*, perk*, perpetrate, persevere, persist, practice, preside, pursue, respond, serve, take effect, take part, take steps, take up, transort, undertake, work out |
| Notes: | an act is the main dramatic unit and a scene is a division within an act |
| Antonyms: | abstain, cease, discontinue, give up, halt, hesitate, idle, refrain, stop |
| Main Entry: | advance |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | move something forward, often quickly |
| Synonyms: | accelerate, achieve, bring forward, come forward, conquer, continue ahead, continue on, dispatch, drive, elevate, forge ahead, gain ground, get ahead, get green light, get there, get with it, go ahead, go forth, go forward, go great guns, go places, go to town, hasten, launch, make headway, make the scene, march, move on, move onward, move up, press on, proceed, progress, promote, propel, push ahead, push on, quicken, send forward, skyrocket, speed, step forward, storm |
| Notes: | advance means 'steady progress' and stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end, while advancement suggests progression that is bigger, more, or beyond normal |
| Antonyms: | back down, halt, hesitate, recede, retreat, retrogress, stop, turn, withdraw, yield |
| Main Entry: | bring about |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cause success |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, achieve, beget, bring to pass, compass, create, do, draw on, effect, effectuate, engender, generate, give rise to, make happen, manage, occasion, produce, realize, secure, succeed |
| Antonyms: | halt, kill, stop |
| Main Entry: | bring off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | accomplish |
| Synonyms: | achieve, bring home the bacon, bring to pass, carry off, carry out, discharge, effect, effectuate, execute, perform, pull off, realize, succeed |
| Antonyms: | fail, lose |
| Main Entry: | carry on |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | continue activity |
| Synonyms: | achieve, endure, hang on, keep going, last, maintain, perpetuate, persevere, persist, proceed |
| Antonyms: | discontinue, stop |
| Main Entry: | carry out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | complete activity |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, achieve, carry through, consummate, discharge, effect, effectuate, execute, finalize, fulfill, implement, meet, perform, realize |
| Antonyms: | leave, not finish, stop |
| Main Entry: | climax |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | come to top; culminate |
| Synonyms: | accomplish, achieve, break the record, cap, come, come to a head, conclude, content, crown, end, finish, fulfill, hit high spot, orgasm, peak, please, reach a peak, reach the zenith, rise to crescendo, satisfy, succeed, terminate, top, tower |
| Antonyms: | delve, dip, drop, fall off |