succeed

/səkˈsiːd/
verbIntermediate
general

to achieve something that you have been aiming for

He succeeded in passing the exam after months of study.

He passed the exam after months of preparation.

The team succeeded in winning the championship.

The team won the championship.

💡

Often used with prepositions like 'in' or 'at' to specify the area of success.

general

to follow someone in a position or role

She will succeed her father as CEO of the company.

She will take over her father's role as CEO.

💡

This meaning is less common and often used in formal or professional contexts.

Collocations

succeed into achieve something specificsucceed atto be good at something

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

succeed inphrase
to achieve something specific
succeed atphrase
to be good at something

💡Pro Tip

Preposition Use

Remember to use 'succeed in' for specific achievements and 'succeed at' for general abilities.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'succeed' can change based on the preposition used, so pay attention to context.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'suceden', from Old French 'succeder', from Latin 'succedere' meaning 'to come after' or 'to follow'.

📝Usage Notes

The verb 'succeed' is often used with prepositions like 'in' or 'at' to specify the area of success. It can also mean to follow someone in a position or role, though this meaning is less common.

Word Breakdown

suc-
under
prefix
+
-ceed
to go
root
English Dictionary