What does succeeding mean?
Succeeding has two related but distinct uses. In its most common adjectival sense, it means coming after something in a sequence: succeeding generations, succeeding decades, or the succeeding volume of a series. It can also describe a person or attempt that achieves the desired result, as in “succeeding where others failed.” In this second sense, it functions as the present participle of the verb succeed and is normally used with “in” before an activity or goal: “She succeeded in convincing the committee.” The word is useful because it can express both temporal sequence and successful continuation, although context is needed to determine which meaning is intended. Its formal and literary character is especially noticeable when describing periods, generations, or administrative periods that follow one another.
Following in sequence or occurring after something else.
"The succeeding decades saw dramatic changes in the city's architecture."
Common in formal and literary contexts, particularly with words such as “generations,” “years,” “decades,” and “volumes.”
Achieving success or successfully completing an endeavor; the present participle of succeed.
"The team succeeded in completing the project ahead of schedule."
Usually followed by “in” when naming the activity or goal.
The word succeeding carries a double life: it can mean going on to succeed, or simply meaning what comes next.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of succeeding
The word comes from the Latin verb succedere, meaning “to follow after” or “to go after,” from sub- “under, after” and cedere “to go or yield.” In English, the word originally developed in the sense of following or coming after, and it later acquired the sense of achieving success through the related noun success. Its cognates include success, successful, successor, and succession, all reflecting the same Latin foundation.
Related word forms
How succeeding is actually used
The adjective is common in formal and literary contexts, especially in phrases such as “succeeding generations” and “in succeeding years.” As a verb form, it is used with “in”: “succeeding in the task.”
Easily confused with succeeding
Succeeding can mean following in sequence, especially in time, whereas successive usually means occurring one after another in a series.