intransitive verb. To gain with effort or despite difficulty; reach.

intransitive verb. To succeed in accomplishing; bring about: synonym: perform.

intransitive verb. To accomplish something successfully; perform at a standard or above standard level.

To perform or execute; accomplish, as some great enterprise; finish; carry on to a prosperous close.

To gain or obtain, as the result of exertion; bring about, as by effort.

Synonyms Effect, Accomplish, etc. (see perform), bring about, work out.

To acquire, win, obtain, get.

To come to an end.

To accomplish some enterprise; bring about a result intended.

transitive verb. To carry on to a final close; to bring out into a perfected state; to accomplish; to perform; -- as, to achieve a feat, an exploit, an enterprise.

transitive verb. To obtain, or gain, as the result of exertion; to succeed in gaining; to win.

transitive verb. To finish; to kill.

verb. to gain with effort

"I think public opinion has already hardened, and about the only thing he can realistically hope to achieve is to stop the bleeding in his poll numbers."