# succeeding

/səkˈsidɪŋ/ (US) · /səksˈiːdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/succeeding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. achieving a goal

verb · CEFR B1

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

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

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

### 2. following in order

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- The vice president is succeeding the president after the election.
- 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.

### 3. next in a series

adjective · CEFR B2

coming after something else in time or order.

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

- The team won the championship this year and for the three succeeding years.
- Each succeeding generation faces a unique set of environmental challenges that their ancestors could scarcely have imagined.

## Examples

- She is succeeding the current director next month.
- The vice president is succeeding the president after the sudden resignation yesterday.
- The legal documents clarify the specific protocol for succeeding the deceased monarch, ensuring a stable transition of authority to the rightful heir.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.