succeed
/səkˈsiːd/ (bre, ipa) · /səkˈsiːd/ (ame, ipa) · /sək-ˈsēd/ (ame, mw)
succeed — verb
- succeedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- succeedshe / she / it
- succeededpast simple
- succeeding-ing form
1. to reach a goal someone has spent time working toward, or for a plan or project
to reach a goal someone has spent time working toward, or for a plan or project to turn out the way intended
Mayumi succeeded in getting into the university she had always dreamed of attending.
succeed in + gerund
After months of practice, Haruto finally succeeded in playing the whole piece without mistakes.
finally succeeded in + gerund
The marketing team's new campaign succeeded beyond all expectations, attracting thousands of new customers.
If this experiment succeeds, it could change the way doctors treat patients with heart disease.
Jabari worked in kitchens for ten years before he finally succeeded as a head chef.
- achieve
transitive; emphasises reaching a specific goal through effort
- manage
less formal; suggests overcoming difficulty to do something
- accomplish
more formal; focuses on completing a defined task
- fail
direct opposite; to not reach the intended goal
文法句型
succeed in + gerund / noun
succeed as + noun
succeed at + noun / gerund
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive and never takes a direct object. Use 'succeed in + gerund' (not 'succeed to + infinitive') to refer to completing a specific task.
常見錯誤
2. to take over a job, role, title, or property after the person who held it leaves
to take over a job, role, title, or property after the person who held it leaves, retires, or dies
When Dr. Chen retired last year, Tanvi succeeded her as director of the research lab.
succeed + person + as [role]
Omar was chosen to succeed the outgoing CEO when he stepped down in June.
succeed + person (active)
King Edward VIII was succeeded by his younger brother after he gave up the throne.
Élise succeeded her father as the owner of the family vineyard in Provence.
- replace
less formal; can be temporary and does not imply official succession
- take over from
phrasal verb; more informal, common in everyday contexts
- inherit
used for property, title, or money; not for job positions
- precede
to come before someone in a role or position
文法句型
succeed + noun (person) + as + noun
be succeeded by + noun
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive form ('be succeeded by'). The person who leaves the role is the direct object. To specify the new role, add 'as + position'.
常見錯誤
3. to directly follow a person, event, or period in time or order
to directly follow a person, event, or period in time or order
A period of strong economic growth succeeded the years of recession.
The bright sunny days of early autumn were soon succeeded by weeks of heavy rain.
passive: be succeeded by [event]
In the cycle of the seasons, spring succeeds winter each year without fail.
The novel's first chapter succeeds the prologue and introduces all the main characters.
- follow
less formal; broader meaning, may not imply immediate sequence
- ensue
formal; suggests the event happens as a result of what came before
- come after
less formal phrasal alternative
- precede
to come before something in time or order
文法句型
succeed + noun
be succeeded by + noun (event/period)
用法筆記
More formal than 'follow'. Often used in written or academic descriptions of historical or natural sequences. The passive form 'be succeeded by' is especially common.