Library / English Dictionary

SUCCEED

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be the successor (of)

Example:

Will Charles succeed to the throne?

Synonyms:

come after; follow; succeed

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "succeed"):

accede; enter (take on duties or office)

replace; supersede; supervene upon; supplant (take the place or move into the position of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP

Antonym:

precede (be the predecessor of)

Derivation:

succession (the action of following in order)

succession (a following of one thing after another in time)

successive (in regular succession without gaps)

successor (a thing or person that immediately replaces something or someone)

successor (a person who inherits some title or office)

successor (a person who follows next in order)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Attain success or reach a desired goal

Example:

she struggled to overcome her handicap and won

Synonyms:

bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

"Succeed" entails doing...:

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "succeed"):

hit (hit the intended target or goal)

bring off; carry off; manage; negociate; pull off (be successful; achieve a goal)

clear; pass (go unchallenged; be approved)

hit the jackpot; luck out (succeed by luck)

nail; nail down; peg (succeed in obtaining a position)

make it; pass (go successfully through a test or a selection process)

run (make without a miss)

act; work (have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected)

pan out (be a success)

accomplish; achieve; attain; reach (to gain with effort)

arrive; get in; go far; make it (succeed in a big way; get to the top)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

The business is going to succeed

Antonym:

fail (be unsuccessful)

Derivation:

succeeder (a person with a record of successes)

Credits

 Context examples: 

We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Towards the close of it, in the interval succeeding an Italian song, she explained the words of the song to Mr Elliot.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Another pause therefore of many minutes' duration, succeeded this speech, and Lucy was still the first to end it.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Exhaustion succeeded to the extreme fatigue both of body and of mind which I had endured.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

You hear of the few who succeed, but what do you know of the hundreds who never find their way?

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I lay for some time watching the bustle which succeeded the attack.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

If you don’t succeed in advancing a home or family matter on December 15, try again on December 30.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

This time the man succeeded only in partly blocking, and his throat was torn open.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“There are mountains, and dry plains, and flash of arms and shouting of battle-cries. Yet it is whispered to me that by failure you will succeed.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)