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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

succeed en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Old French succeder, from Latin succedere (“to go under, go from under, come under, approach, follow, take the place of, receive by succession, prosper, be successful”). Partly displaced English speed, of which the original sense “to succeed” only survives in a few fossilized expressions such as Godspeed.

Meanings

  1. (transitive) To follow something in sequence or time.
    • Autumn succeeds summer.
    • Destructive effects […] succeeded the curse. 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
  2. (transitive) To replace or supplant someone in order vis-à-vis an office, position, or title.
    • After a contentious election, Jones succeeded Smith as president of the republic.
    • The king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne.
  3. (intransitive) To come after or follow; to be subsequent or consequent; (often with to).
    • Her arms were like legs of mutton, her breasts like giant cabbages; her face, broad and fleshy, gave you an impression of almost indecent nakedness, and vast chin succeeded to vast chin. 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 49”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:
  4. (intransitive) To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; (often with to).
    • An heir in possession of an entailed estate succeeded to another estate under an entail which required him to denude of one of them. Held that before making his election he could not make up a title to or disentail the second estate. 1924, Faculty of Advocates (Scotland), An Analytical Digest of Cases Decided in the Supreme Courts of Scotland, And, on Appeal, in the House of Lords, 1868 to 1922, page 159:
    • Following the death of his mother, he succeeded to the throne.
    • So, if the issue of the elder son succeed before the younger, the crown (or: property) falls to me.
  5. (intransitive) To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; (often with to). ▸ To ascend the throne after the removal or death of the occupant.
    • Princess Buttercup succeeded to the throne as queen after King Willoughby died.
    • If he succeeded in February, 670, this would be his sixteenth year. 2011, The Honorable Bede, The Ecclesiastical History of England, Jazzybee Verlag, →ISBN, page 242:
  6. (intransitive) To prevail in obtaining an intended objective or accomplishment; to prosper as a result or conclusion of a particular effort.
    • The persecution of any righteous practice has never succeeded in the face of history; in fact, it can expedite the collapse of the persecutory regime.
    • She succeeded in her efforts to repair the tank.
    • The admirable smoothness of the riding also reflected the greatest credit on those who, despite the difficulties caused by the shortage of men and materials, have succeeded in maintaining the track in such first-class order. 1946 July and August, Cecil J. Allen, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 213:
    • Risk here refers to the fact that working-class families are less likely to have members who have already attended and succeeded at university, which means that university is perceived as a more uncertain and thus risky proposition. 2015 December 22, Amy E. Stich, Carrie Freie, The Working Classes and Higher Education: Inequality of Access, Opportunity and Outcome, Routledge, →ISBN:
  7. (intransitive) To prosper or attain success and beneficial results in general.
    • voted most likely to succeed
    • Legumes thrive better on this soil than on any of those derived entirely from acid materials. Applications of lime benefit clover […] Even with artificial drainage, alfalfa will not succeed, as roots cannot penetrate deep enough. 1955, Soil Survey, page 35:
  8. (dated, intransitive) To turn out, fare, do (well or ill).
    • 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, Ear, and Throat Hospital, Nursing in Diseases of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, page 74:
    • In some parts of Germany it is commonly believed that whatever is undertaken when the moon is on the increase succeeds well [...] whereas business undertaken in the wane of the moon is doomed to failure. 1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, volume 2, page 141:
  9. (transitive) To support; to prosper; to promote or give success to.
    • Succeed my wish and second my design. 1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
    • […] and his Royal Highness, who by their presence and incouragement inspired a new life and vigour into the sinking spirits of the Citizens, whereby God was pleased so far to succeed their endeavours, that a stop was put to the fury[…] 1666, Edward Stillingfleet, A Sermon preached before the honourable House of Commons ... October 10 ... third edition, page 31:
  10. (intransitive) To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve; (often with to).
    • A paterfamilias could arrange a marriage or emancipate a child without its mother's consent, and if the mother died intestate (possibly because her tutor refused to approve her will) her estate succeeded to her siblings, not to her husband or children, […] 2020 September 1, David P. Barash, Threats: Intimidation and Its Discontents, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 194:
  11. (obsolete, rare, transitive) To fall heir to; to inherit.
    • (iv) By Transmission of Shares: A person may become a member by registration if he succeeds the estate of a deceased member. 2019, D. Chandra Bose, Business Law, second edition, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., →ISBN, page 314:
    • Else let my brother die, / If not a feodary, but only he / Owe and succeed thy weakness. c. 1603, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure:
  12. (intransitive, obsolete, rare) To go down or near (with to).
    • Or will you to the cooler cave succeed, / Whose mouth the curling vines have overspread? […] […] And snakes, familiar, to the hearth succeed, / Disclose their eggs, and near the chimney breed— […] To his rough palate his dry tongue succeeds; 1697, Virgil, translated by John Dryden, The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
    • Who, ever as he saw him nigh succeed, / Gan cry aloud with horrible affright, […] 1679, Edmund Spenser, The Works of that Famous English Poet, Mr. Edmond Spenser: Viz : The Faery Queen, …, page 293:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
succede alternative, obsolete lexicographic
succeeded Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
succeeded Tense=Past lexicographic
succeeds Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
succeeding Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Antonyms

precede (antonym(s) of) · fall on one's face (antonym(s) of “obtain the object desired, accomplish what is attempted or intended”) · fail (antonym(s) of “obtain the object desired, accomplish what is attempted or intended”) · fail (antonym(s) of “support, prosper, promote”)

Deriveds

succeedable · succeedingly · nothing succeeds like success · unsucceedable · succeeder · succedent · resucceed · if at first you don't succeed, try try again · unsucceeded

Relateds

receive · deserve · successive · success · succession

Synonyms

supersede · ensue · flourish · follow · succeed · take the place of · come after (follow in order) · do well (support; prosper; promote) · supersede · follow on

Translations (153)

yi געראָטן (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ckb سەرکەوتن (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru достига́ть це́ли (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ja 継ぐ (To fall heir to; to inherit) · es sucesionar (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · es tener éxito (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · de Erfolg haben (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fi periä (To fall heir to; to inherit) · el ακολουθώ (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ru отходить (To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve) · de nachfolgen (To fall heir to; to inherit) · es arrasar (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ja 継承する (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · sl naslediti (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · pl następować (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ja 継承する (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · fr réussir (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · de erfolgreich sein (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · bg наследявам (To fall heir to; to inherit) · el διαδέχομαι (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · el επιτυγχάνω (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · az alınmaq (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ca succeir (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · bg приемник съм на (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · cmn 繼 /继 (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · sl uspeti (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · pl udać się (komu? czemu?) (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · eo postveni (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · sl slediti (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ru наследовать (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · ja 継ぐ (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ca succeir (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · yi געלינגען (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · pt seguir (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · la vigeō (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · sl slediti (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · fi edistää (To support; to prosper; to promote) · el καταφέρνω (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru следовать (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · it riuscire (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · eo sukcesi (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · mi rīwhi (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ro succede (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · nrf rêussi (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fi nousta valtaan (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · hu sikerül (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru наследовать (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · ru преуспе́ть (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ca reeixir (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ja 成功する (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fi seurata (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · kix thǖshīu (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · gl conseguir (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · gsw glinge (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru наследовать (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · sl uspeti (To support; to prosper; to promote) · fi paikata (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · ja 継ぐ (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · es petar (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ro reuși (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · sv lyckas (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fi onnistua (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · es suceder (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · ja 継ぐ (To support; to prosper; to promote) · vi thành công (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · it succedere (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ang spōwan (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · es suceder (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · fi nousta valtaan (To fall heir to; to inherit) · pl dać radę (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fi menestyä (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · la succedere (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · cmn 繼位 /继位 (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · pl odziedziczyć (To fall heir to; to inherit) · he עָשָׂה חַיִל (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · sl naslediti (To fall heir to; to inherit) · sw fanikiwa (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · la vigeō (To support; to prosper; to promote) · ru идти за (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · th ได้ดี (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fr succéder (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · de geraten (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · hu követ (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ca aconseguir (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ro succede (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · yi מצליח זיין (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · yue 成功 (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ar نَجَحَ (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru дости́чь це́ли (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · es subseguir (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · pl poradzić sobie (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ca seguir (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · de gelingen (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · la succēdō (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · fr avoir du succès (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru наследовать (To fall heir to; to inherit) · sw fanikiwa (To support; to prosper; to promote) · fi seurata (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · gsw erfolgriich sii (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · mi taua (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · es ser el sucesor de (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · pt conseguir (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ca succeir (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · gsw grate (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · gsw Erfolg haa (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · pt seguir (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ro succeda (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · grc διαδέχομαι (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · fi seurata (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · pt ter/obter sucesso/êxito (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · sl naslediti (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · de nachfolgen (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · om milkaa'uu (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ro succeda (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · shn ထိုင်ယိူင်းမၢႆ (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · el κατορθώνω (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · cy llwyddo (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · cs uspět (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · nl opvolgen (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · bg следвам (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · cmn 继承 (To fall heir to; to inherit) · izh onnistua (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · es suceder (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · es suceder (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru переходить (To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve) · ja 継承する (To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue) · es seguirle en la sucesión a (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · he הִצְלִיחַ (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · km សម្រេច (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ro succeda (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · gl seguir (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · ru сменять (Specifically: To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant) · es anotarse un poroto (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · khb ᦺᦡᧉᦡᦲ (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · sl naslediti (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · cmn 成功 (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · arz نجح (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ru сменять (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · mi taua (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · hu örököl (To fall heir to; to inherit) · ko 성공하다 (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ja 相続する (To fall heir to; to inherit) · mi whakaekeeke (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · mi tutuki (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · es atinar (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · ja 継承する (To support; to prosper; to promote) · ja 続く (To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things) · fi tukea (To support; to prosper; to promote) · bg успявам (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful) · bg следвам (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · gl suceder (To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of) · pt suceder (To fall heir to; to inherit) · th ประสบความสำเร็จ (to obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful)