Vocabulary/ B2 Vocabulary lessons and / Challenges and achievements – B2 English Vocabulary
Challenges and Achievements
Learn essential English vocabulary related to setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and celebrating success.
About This Lesson
In this Pre-advanced Vocabulary Lesson about Challenges and Achievements, you will learn essential terms and phrases related to setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles, and persevering to succeed. Check the pictures, definitions, and example sentences below to understand these terms better.
Challenges and Achievements: Key Concepts
An educational vocabulary chart labeled 'Challenges and Achievements – Nouns' featuring twelve key terms.
Key Concepts: Nouns
Essential nouns for describing goals, obstacles, and personal qualities related to success.
Goal
An objective or result that you wish to achieve in the future.
My goal is to pay off my mortgage before my 35th birthday.
Lifelong / Burning ambition
Something you have always wanted to do or have a passionate desire to accomplish.
It has been my lifelong ambition to travel around the world alone. I’ve always had a burning ambition to climb to the top of Mt Everest.
Setback
Something that delays or stops you from making progress.
We experienced several setbacks, which really slowed us down.
Hurdle
A problem that you must overcome to accomplish something.
Mike had to overcome many hurdles before finally achieving his goal.
Hardship
A difficult condition or situation that is hard to endure.
Joe endured many hardships in his youth, such as poverty and poor health.
Motivation
The desire to achieve a goal.
Luke’s teachers complained that he lacks motivation and doesn’t work very hard.
Determination
Persistent commitment and effort toward achieving a goal, especially in the face of challenges.
I admire Tom’s determination to succeed in everything he does.
Resilience
The ability to recover and adapt after encountering difficulties or setbacks.
Jane has shown a lot of resilience after the hardships she has endured.
Stepping stone
Something that helps you make progress toward achieving a goal.
Working for a production company was a stepping stone in my career.
Breakthrough
An important event or discovery that helps you make progress or improve a difficult situation.
John called me to report that he had made a breakthrough in his research.
Accomplishment
Something that you have achieved and are proud of.
Lara is very modest and rarely talks about her accomplishments.
Dream come true
When something you have hoped for a long time finally happens.
Working with my favourite actor was a dream come true for me.
Challenges and Achievements: Verbs
A vocabulary infographic titled 'Challenges and Achievements – Verbs' displaying twelve action phrases.
Action Words: Verbs & Phrases
Common verbs and phrasal verbs used to describe effort, resilience, and success.
Pursue a dream
To make efforts toward achieving something you have always wanted.
Ben is currently pursuing his dream of cycling across North America.
Face (a problem)
To confront a difficult reality or situation.
Max has had to face some difficult problems during the course of his career.
Attempt
To make an effort to do or achieve a particular task.
She attempted to climb the mountain despite the harsh weather conditions.
Deal with
To take action toward solving a problem or difficult situation.
She had to deal with an unexpected power outage during her presentation.
Succeed (in)
To manage to achieve the desired result in a task you’ve been trying to do.
Jeff is so determined; I am sure he will succeed in everything he does.
Pull (something) off
To succeed in doing something difficult or dangerous.
Although they had planned the robbery carefully, the men were unable to pull it off.
Achieve / Fulfil
To accomplish something you have been trying very hard to do (a goal, ambition, or dream).
Lucy has finally achieved her goal and reached her ideal weight. If you want to fulfil this ambition, you’re going to have to push yourself harder.
Believe in (yourself/someone)
To be confident that you or someone else can achieve something.
My parents have always believed in me and told me I was capable of great things.
Overcome
To manage to recover from or solve a difficult situation.
After months of hard work, she finally overcame the financial hurdles and managed to save her business.
Persevere / Never give up
To keep trying despite difficulties.
I realise the course is difficult, but I hope you will persevere and complete the year.
Push yourself
To continuously force yourself to do something difficult to achieve a result.
Jim is unlikely to stop pushing himself until he achieves his goal.
Exceed expectations
To achieve better results than expected.
Matt exceeded everyone’s expectations and graduated from school with honours.