succeed

IPA/səkˈsiːd/
KK[səksˈid]IPA/səkˈsiːd/

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

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to reach a goal someone has spent time working toward, or for a plan or project to turn out the way intended

Example

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

Common collocations
  • succeed in
  • succeed at
  • succeed as
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • fail

    direct opposite; to not reach the intended goal

Grammar Patterns

succeed in + gerund / noun

succeed as + noun

succeed at + noun / gerund

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

She succeeded to pass the exam.
She succeeded in passing the exam.
'succeed' is followed by 'in + gerund', not 'to + infinitive'.
He succeeded the project.
He succeeded in the project.
'succeed' with this meaning does not take a direct object.

2. to take over a job, role, title, or property after the person who held it leaves

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to take over a job, role, title, or property after the person who held it leaves, retires, or dies

Example

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)

Common collocations
  • succeed someone as
  • be succeeded by
  • succeed to the throne
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • precede

    to come before someone in a role or position

Grammar Patterns

succeed + noun (person) + as + noun

be succeeded by + noun

Usage Note

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'.

Common Mistakes

Brian succeeded as CEO Mr. Thompson.
Brian succeeded Mr. Thompson as CEO.
the person being replaced comes right after 'succeed', before 'as'.

3. to directly follow a person, event, or period in time or order

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to directly follow a person, event, or period in time or order

Example

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]

Common collocations
  • be succeeded by
  • succeed one another
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • precede

    to come before something in time or order

Grammar Patterns

succeed + noun

be succeeded by + noun (event/period)

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

Summer succeeded after spring.
Summer succeeded spring.
'succeed' is transitive here; do not add 'after'.
Idioms

nothing succeeds like success

idiom

Being successful in one thing often helps you become successful in other things too.

After winning the science fair, Maya got more project offers because nothing succeeds like success.

Brian's first book was a hit, and now everyone wants to work with him—nothing succeeds like success.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Succeed is intransitive — it emphasises reaching a desired result, often after sustained effort ('succeed in finding a job'). Achieve is transitive and stresses the completion of a specific goal through skill or persistence ('achieve a target score'). Accomplish is more formal and focuses on carrying out a defined task to completion ('accomplish a mission'). Manage is less formal and suggests doing something despite difficulties ('manage to catch the last train'). Use succeed when the emphasis is on the result — whether it turned out well — whereas achieve and accomplish draw attention to the task itself.

succeed ↗achieve ↗accomplish ↗manage ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • succeed as a [role]
  • succeed with [approach/strategy]

Adverbs

  • eventually succeed
  • finally succeed
  • ultimately succeed

Phrases

  • succeed beyond expectations
  • succeed against all odds
  • succeed where others have failed

Prepositions

  • succeed in
  • succeed at

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'succedere' — a combination of 'sub' (from below, after) and 'cedere' (to go, to come). The word originally meant 'to come after, to follow' in both time and position. Over centuries the meaning shifted: 'to follow' became 'to take the place of' (sense 2), which then developed into 'to turn out well' (sense 1) — the idea being that someone who follows in a position and continues the work is prospering. The modern sense of achieving a goal emerged in Late Middle English.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a