succeed

verb

suc·​ceed sək-ˈsēd 

succeeded; succeeding; succeeds

intransitive verb

1

a

: to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate

especially : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title

b

: to follow after another in order

2

a

: to turn out well

b

: to attain a desired object or end

students who succeed in college

3

obsolete : to pass to a person by inheritance

transitive verb

1

: to follow in sequence and especially immediately

2

: to come after as heir or successor

succeeder noun

Synonyms

• click
• come off
• deliver
• go
• go over
• pan out
• work out

Choose the Right Synonym for succeed

follow, succeed, ensue, supervene mean to come after something or someone.

follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.

speeches followed the dinner

succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank.

she succeeded her father as head of the business

ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.

after the talk a general discussion ensued

supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.

unable to continue because of supervening circumstances

Examples of succeed in a Sentence

Ghosh's remarkable detective work succeeds in rescuing an entire group of marginalized figures from British and South Asian amnesia, if not outright denial. —Maya Jasanoff, New York Review of Books, 18 Dec. 2008

Enter Gordon Brown. Journalistic legend has it that, over dinner in a trendy London restaurant as long ago as 1994, the two of them settled that Blair would lead the Labour party for an unspecified length of time and Brown would then succeed him. —David Pryce-Jones, National Review, 28 May 2007

Maguire, a freelance writer who specializes in culture and technology and recently published a book about spelling bees, paints a vivid portrait of Sullivan as a tough-minded micromanager who tightly controlled every aspect of his show, even telling Ella Fitzgerald what to sing. Behind the avuncular, slightly befuddled façade viewers knew, he writes, was a man consumed by ambition and driven to succeed at any cost. —Peter Keepnews, New York Times Book Review, 11 June 2006

You can succeed where others failed.

The plan just might succeed.

Their attempt seemed unlikely to succeed.

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s an understanding in the dressing room of the common goal — putting themselves in the best position to succeed in the playoffs — and a camaraderie that allows everyone to simultaneously be one cohesive unit and their own selves while attempting to reach that goal. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

If grass isn’t getting six hours of direct sunlight daily in the growing season, no turfgrass is going to succeed. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024

Read the full Cancer Daily Horoscope Leo (July 23 - August 22) Driven to succeed? —USA TODAY, 19 Apr. 2024

Conversely, friendship isn’t the only reason Brunson, Hart and DiVincenzo succeed. —Tania Ganguli, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Plant breeders succeeded in making those big crops more productive, more profitable to grow and also more plentiful and cheaper for consumers. —Dan Charles, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

This expansion succeeded as well, but not overnight. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Most agreed that his wife stands the best chance of succeeding him and carrying his banner. —Simon Shuster / Vilnius, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Curry’s contract and age give them a three-year window to assemble a championship-caliber roster around him — with every succeeding year becoming more difficult than the past. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English succeden, from Anglo-French succeeder, from Latin succedere to go up, follow after, succeed, from sub- near + cedere to go — more at sub-

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing succeed

• only succeed in

Kids Definition

succeed

verb

suc·​ceed sək-ˈsēd 

1

a

: to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate

especially : to inherit sovereignty

b

: to follow after another in order

2

a

: to turn out well

b

: to reach a desired end or object : be successful

succeeder noun

Etymology

Middle English succeden "to come after," from Latin succedere "to go up, follow after," from sub- "under, near" and cedere "to go, yield" — related to concede, necessary

Legal Definition

succeed

intransitive verb

suc·​ceed sək-ˈsēd 

1

: to come next after another in office or position

2

a

: to take something by succession

succeeded to his mother's estate

b

: to acquire the rights, obligations, and charges of a decedent in property comprising an estate

the heir, who accepts, is considered as having succeeded to the deceased from the moment of his death

—Louisiana Civil Code

transitive verb

1

: to follow in sequence and especially immediately

2

: to come after as heir or successor