ENGLISH
REFERENCE

succeeding

v. · adj.
US //səkˈsidɪŋ// UK //səksˈiːdɪŋ// suc·ceed·ing
  1. 1 achieving a goal (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the act of reaching a goal or doing what you tried to do.

    the present participle of 'succeed', referring to the attainment of a desired aim or result.

    Example

    She is finally succeeding in her new job after a difficult start.

    Example

    The startup is currently succeeding in securing venture capital, despite the volatile nature of the current tech market.

    Usage

    Usually takes the preposition 'in' followed by a noun or gerund.
    Pitfall
    He is succeeding to win the race.
    He is succeeding in winning the race.

    The verb 'succeed' is followed by the preposition 'in' and a gerund, not an infinitive.

  2. 2 following in order (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    coming after someone or something else in a sequence or job.

    the present participle of 'succeed', meaning to follow in order or to take over a position from a predecessor.

    Example

    The vice president is succeeding the president after the election.

    Example

    By succeeding his father as head of the firm, he inherited both a vast fortune and a series of complex legal disputes.

    Usage

    Transitive when referring to taking over a position or title.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
  1. 3 next in a series (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    coming after something else in time or order.

    following in order or coming next after something else; typically used in an attributive position before a noun.

    Example

    The team won the championship this year and for the three succeeding years.

    Example

    Each succeeding generation faces a unique set of environmental challenges that their ancestors could scarcely have imagined.

© 2026 English Reference