succeed

[suhk-seed]

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of succeed¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of succeed¹

C15: from Latin succēdere to follow after, from sub- after + cēdere to go

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Denying innovative life science companies the support they need to succeed on American soil only incentivizes them to move good-paying jobs overseas.

Read more on Salon

To their proponents, pageants are a training ground for young women to succeed in a world beyond the swimsuit competition.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite being barred from running herself, she succeeded in uniting an often fractured opposition behind the little-known candidate who replaced her on the ballot, Edmundo González.

Read more on BBC

I asked him if a guest worker program could succeed today.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If this first chapter succeeds with audiences, an “Aztec Batman” sequel is feasible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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