What does succeed mean?
Succeed means to achieve something desired, such as a goal, objective, examination result, or professional ambition. It often suggests that effort, skill, persistence, or favorable circumstances contributed to the outcome, although success itself does not necessarily imply that the achievement was easy. The word is commonly used with at, in, or an object: a person can succeed at a task, succeed in doing something, or succeed someone in a position. In older and more formal English, succeed can also mean to follow or come after another person, as in a successor succeeding to a role. Its history reflects this older sense: the word developed from Latin roots meaning “to go after,” and only later came to express achieving a favorable result. Today, succeed is a versatile verb used in education, sport, business, law, and personal achievement.
verbTo achieve a desired result or objective, especially after making an effort. In older or more formal usage, it can also mean to come after or follow someone.
- To achieve a desired result, objective, or level of success.
- To come after or follow someone, especially in an older or formal context.
"The team succeeded in completing the project despite several unexpected delays."
"Her persistence helped her succeed in the national examination."
"The younger generation succeeded the founders in running the company."
Succeed originally meant “to follow”: the word comes from a Latin verb meaning “to go after,” before it developed its modern sense of achieving a desired outcome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does succeed come from?
The English verb comes through Old French from Latin succedere, a compound of sub- and cedere, meaning “to go after” or “to follow.” In Latin, the word could refer to following another person, and it developed over time into the idea of achieving a favorable result or replacing a predecessor. Related English words include success, successful, successor, and succession, all reflecting the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How succeed is actually used
In modern English, succeed is commonly followed by an object when the successful action is stated: “She succeeded the campaign.” It also commonly takes at or in: “succeed at a task” or “succeed in doing something.” The sense of following someone is now less common in everyday speech but remains standard in formal and historical contexts.
Easily confused with succeed
Successive means following one after another in a series, whereas succeed as a verb means to achieve a result or to come after someone.