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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
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. See More Recent Examples on the Web Sunday starts a Miami Dolphins season of questions: Can quirky and creative Mike McDaniel succeed as a new head coach? Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Ohio’s Senate race to succeed Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, leans Republican, according to The Cook Political Report. Henry J. Gomez, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 To show up every day as a really consistent player with a consistent attitude for the team, that's a team player, that wants to win and wants to see the team succeed. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Truss, who refused to spell out her energy strategy during the two-month campaign to succeed Boris Johnson, now plans to cap energy bills at a cost to taxpayers of as much as 100 billion pounds ($116 billion), British news media reported Tuesday. Sylvia Hui And Danica Kirka, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2022 Liz Truss, who won a bitter battle to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister, is set to preside over a historic moment: For the first time, there is unlikely to be a White man holding one of Britain’s four top seats of political power. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 Entering the general election in which he is expected to win handily and succeed Mosby, Bates had $57,543 left in his account as of Aug. 23, with $242,816 in debts. Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2022 Watching Serena Williams and Beyoncé struggle and succeed with their choices gave her strength. Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 The companies that succeed will be those led by smart, committed and clear-eyed founders who have the grit to cut through the chaos and forge a new path—while also staying laser-focused on the fundamentals of running their business. Stephen Hau, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 Ohio’s Senate race to succeed Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, leans Republican, according to The Cook Political Report. Henry J. Gomez, NBC News, 7 Sep. 2022 To show up every day as a really consistent player with a consistent attitude for the team, that's a team player, that wants to win and wants to see the team succeed. Jason Duaine Hahn, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 Truss, who refused to spell out her energy strategy during the two-month campaign to succeed Boris Johnson, now plans to cap energy bills at a cost to taxpayers of as much as 100 billion pounds ($116 billion), British news media reported Tuesday. Sylvia Hui And Danica Kirka, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Sep. 2022 Liz Truss, who won a bitter battle to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister, is set to preside over a historic moment: For the first time, there is unlikely to be a White man holding one of Britain’s four top seats of political power. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2022 Entering the general election in which he is expected to win handily and succeed Mosby, Bates had $57,543 left in his account as of Aug. 23, with $242,816 in debts. Sam Janesch, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2022 Watching Serena Williams and Beyoncé struggle and succeed with their choices gave her strength. Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022 The companies that succeed will be those led by smart, committed and clear-eyed founders who have the grit to cut through the chaos and forge a new path—while also staying laser-focused on the fundamentals of running their business. Stephen Hau, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
succeed
verb
suc·ceed sək-ˈsēd
succeeded; succeeding
1
: to achieve a desired result : be successful
Half of them wanted me to mess up, and half of them wanted me to succeed. Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control
Jack Gantos, Joey Pigza Loses Control2
: to turn out well
The plan succeeded.
3
: to come after : follow
This new model of car succeeds the old one.
4
: to come next after another person in office or position
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
Louisiana Civil Codetransitive verb
1
: to follow in sequence and especially immediately
2
: to come after as heir or successor
succeed
verb
1
as in to go
to turn out as planned or desired the advertising campaign that finally succeeded used humor to sell the product Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- go
- click
- deliver
- flourish
- bear fruit
- come off
- pan out
- thrive
- catch fire
- work out
- go over
- prosper
- deliver the goods
- catch on
- do the trick
- go like clockwork
- cook
- percolate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fail
- strike out
- miss
- struggle
- founder
- collapse
- flunk
- fold
- languish
- wash out
- flounder
- flop
- bomb
- wane
- decline
- crumble
- sink
- slip
- slump
- choke
- skid
- crash
- miscarry
- fall down
- crater
- misfire
- implode
- flame out
- crack up
- go under
- self-destruct
2
as in to thrive
to reach a desired level of accomplishment if you want to succeed in show business, you have to feel comfortable in front of an audience Synonyms & Similar Words
- thrive
- flourish
- arrive
- prosper
- excel
- win
- get ahead
- get there
- make it
- get somewhere
- cut it
- hack it
- prevail
- make good
- hit it big
- triumph
- cut the mustard
- make the grade
- make one's mark
- come into one's own
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fail
- struggle
- flounder
3
as in to follow
to come after in time only the results on election day will tell who will succeed the current president Synonyms & Similar Words
- follow
- replace
- supersede
- supervene
- supplant
- postdate
- displace
- ensue
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- precede
- predate
- antedate
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of succeed are ensue, follow, and supervene. While all these words mean "to come after something or someone," 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
While in some cases nearly identical to succeed, ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development.
after the talk a general discussion ensued
The words follow and succeed are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence.
speeches followed the dinner
The synonyms supervene and succeed are sometimes interchangeable, but supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable.
unable to continue because of supervening circumstances