Succeed Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms succeed American [suhk-seed] / səkˈsid /

verb (used without object)

1. to happen or terminate according to desire; turn out successfully; have the desired result.

   Our efforts succeeded.

   Antonyms: fail

2. to thrive, prosper, grow, or the like.

   Grass will not succeed in this dry soil.

   Antonyms: fail

3. to accomplish what is attempted or intended.

   We succeeded in our efforts to start the car.

   Antonyms: fail

4. to attain success in some popularly recognized form, as wealth or standing.

   The class voted him the one most likely to succeed.

   Antonyms: fail

5. to follow or replace another by descent, election, appointment, etc. (often followed byto ).

6. to come next after something else in an order or series.

verb (used with object)

1. to come after and take the place of, as in an office or estate.

2. to come next after in an order or series, or in the course of events; follow.

   Antonyms: precede

succeed British / səkˈsiːd /

verb

1. (intr) to accomplish an aim, esp in the manner desired

   he succeeded in winning

2. (intr) to happen in the manner desired

   the plan succeeded

3. (intr) to acquit oneself satisfactorily or do well, as in a specified field

   to succeed in publishing

4. to come next in order (after someone or something)

5. to take over an office, post, etc (from a person)

   he succeeded to the vice presidency

6. to come into possession (of property, etc); inherit

7. (intr) to have a result according to a specified manner

   the plan succeeded badly

8. (intr) to devolve upon

   the estate succeeded to his son

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

Succeed, flourish, prosper, thrive mean to do well. To succeed is to turn out well, to attain a goal: It is everyone's wish to succeed in life. To flourish is to give evidence of success or a ripe development of power, reputation, etc.: Culture flourishes among free people. To prosper is to achieve and enjoy material success: He prospered but was still discontented. Thrive suggests vigorous growth and development such as results from natural vitality or favorable conditions: The children thrived in the sunshine. See follow.

Other Word Forms

• succeedable adjective
• succeeder noun
• succeeding adjective
• succeedingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of succeed

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English succeden from Old French succeder, from Latin succēdere “to go (from) under, follow, prosper,” equivalent to suc- suc- + cēdere “to go” ( cede )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The winning city, which will succeed Bradford, will be announced later this year; and receive £10 million to deliver a year's worth of cultural activities drawing on its "local strengths and stories".

From BBC

Craig will become CEO and a director of BHP on July 1, succeeding Mike Henry, who has led the company for more than six years.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even if such an assault were to succeed, the U.S. beachheads would have to be protected against counterattacks from the IRGC, whose strength is estimated at 190,000 active personnel.

From The Wall Street Journal

She could believe me or believe me not, but what I most wanted in the world was to see Tansy succeed.

From Literature

His hand almost succeeds this time; it brushes my wrist.

From Literature

Related Words

• accomplish
• achieve
• benefit
• flourish
• gain
• get
• overcome
• prevail
• prosper
• realize
• thrive
• triumph
• win

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.