succeeds; succeeded; succeeding
1
a
: to do what you are trying to do : to achieve the correct or desired result
You can succeed where others failed.
She hopes to succeed [=to do well] at her job.
—often + inHe will never succeed in this business. [=he will never be successful in this business]
Our team succeeded in stopping their offensive momentum.
She finally succeeded in persuading me to go.
I tried to apologize but only succeeded in making her angrier. [=all I did was make her angrier when I tried to apologize]
b
: to happen in the planned or desired way
The plan just might succeed.
Their attempt seemed unlikely to succeed.
2
a
: to come after (something) in a series
The new model will succeed [=replace] the current one next spring.
b
: to get a particular job, position, or title after the person who had it before you has retired, died, etc.
Both of them have ambitions to succeed the prime minister.
She will succeed him as chair of the committee.
The Queen died and was succeeded by James I.
James I succeeded to the throne upon the Queen's death in 1603.
Cite this Entry
“Succeed.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/succeed. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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