succeed

verb

suhk-SEED/səkˈsiːd/

Formssucceeds, succeeding, succeeded

13 meanings of succeed

Practice

1
verbintransitive
To reach a goal or do what you set out to do after trying hard.
Like reaching the top of a hill you set out to climb.
After months of practice, she finally succeeded in passing her test.
If you keep trying, you will succeed.
Similarprevail, triumph
Oppositefail
Note
2
verbintransitive
To do well and get good results in life or work.
Like a plant that grows strong and healthy in good soil.
Her small bakery succeeded beyond what anyone expected.
Children succeed when they feel safe and supported at home.
Similarprosper, thrive, flourish
Oppositefail, flounder
Note
3
verbtransitive
To take over a job, position, or title from the person who held it before.
Like a new captain taking over a team when the old one leaves.
She succeeded her mentor as head of the department.
A younger leader will succeed him next year.
Similarreplace
Oppositeprecede
4
verbintransitive
To come right after something else in time or order.
Like one season coming right after another.
A deep calm succeeded once the storm had passed.
Quiet days usually succeed after a long stretch of bad weather.
Similarfollow, ensue
Oppositeprecede
5
verbintransitive
To come next in the natural order, or to come next in owning something.
Like the next person in line getting the prize.
When the old lord died, his eldest son succeeded to the estate.
Distant cousins may succeed to the lands if no closer heir is found.
Similarinherit
Note
6
verbintransitive
To become the new king or queen after the last one dies or steps down.
Like the next person in line taking the crown.
When the queen died, her son succeeded to the throne.
Princes who succeed young often depend on their advisors.
Similaraccede
Oppositeabdicate
Note
7
verbtransitive
To come right after something else in a fixed order or sequence.
Like the number four following the number three when you count.
In our calendar, fall succeeds summer.
A calmer scene will succeed the dramatic opening.
Similarfollow
Oppositeprecede
Note
8
verbtransitive
To help something go well and bring it good results.
Succeed my wish and second my design.
1697, Virgil, The Works of VirgilHere, Succeed means help along and make it go well.
Similarpromote, further, advance
Oppositehinder, thwart
Note
9
verbintransitive
To pass down to the next person in the same family, like land or a title.
Like a house being handed down from parents to children.
The estate succeeded to the eldest daughter.
Such heirlooms usually succeed to the closest living relative.
Similarpass, devolve, descend
Note
10
verbmisconstruction
Misconstruction of secede. It is wrongly used to mean breaking away from a group or country.
Some lawmakers wanted their state to succeed from the country.
The soccer club wanted to succeed from the league and start a new one.
Note

Less common meanings

11
verbdatedintransitive
To turn out a certain way, either well or badly.
Like a cake that turns out well or badly after baking.
The harvest succeeded poorly during that cold year.
An excellent hospital nurse may succeed poorly in private work, for the executive ability that means so much in the hospital counts for little in caring for a single patient.
1911, Manhattan Eye, EarHere, succeed poorly means turn out badly or do poorly.
Similarfare
Note
12
verbobsoletetransitive
To inherit something, such as money or land, from someone who has died.
Like getting your grandparent's house after they pass away.
He succeeded a large fortune when his uncle died.
Else let my brother die, / If not a feodary, but only he / Owe and succeed thy weakness.
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, Measure for MeasureHere, succeed means inherit, to receive something passed down.
Note
13
verbobsoleteintransitive
To move down toward or come close to something.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin succedere, which meant to come after, take someone's place, or do well. It reached English through Old French succeder.