ENGLISH
REFERENCE

succeed

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //səkˈsid// UK //səksˈiːd// suc·ceed Archaic General-service

v. to achieve a goal or get the result you wanted. You use this when you do something well after trying hard.

v. to achieve a desired aim or result; to accomplish a specific purpose. Often used intransitively with the preposition 'in'.


SIMPLE

If you work hard, you will succeed.

CONTEXTUAL

The team worked through the night to ensure the product launch would succeed despite the technical issues.

COMPLEX

While many startups fail within their first year, those that succeed often do so by identifying a niche market that larger competitors have overlooked.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

The verb is often intransitive; when followed by an activity, it requires the preposition 'in' and a gerund.

Pitfall

he succeeded to pass the examhe succeeded in passing the examSucceed is followed by 'in' and a gerund (-ing form), not a 'to' infinitive.

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