Meaning

(transitive) To follow something in sequence or time..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive) To follow something in sequence or time.
2. (transitive) To replace or supplant someone in order vis-à-vis an office, position, or title.
3. (intransitive) To come after or follow; to be subsequent or consequent; (often with to).
4. (intransitive) To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; (often with to).
5. (intransitive) To prevail in obtaining an intended objective or accomplishment; to prosper as a result or conclusion of a particular effort.
6. (intransitive) To prosper or attain success and beneficial results in general.
7. (intransitive, dated) To turn out, fare, do (well or ill).
8. (transitive) To support; to prosper; to promote or give success to.

Example Sentences

Autumn succeeds summer.

Destructive effects […] succeeded the curse.

The king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne.

After a contentious election, Jones succeeded Smith as president of the republic.

Her arms were like legs of mutton, her breasts like giant cabbages; her face, broad and fleshy, gave you an impression of almost indecent nakedness, and vast chin succeeded to vast chin.

Following the death of his mother, he succeeded to the throne.

So, if the issue of the elder son succeed before the younger, the crown (or: property) falls to me.

An heir in possession of an entailed estate succeeded to another estate under an entail which required him to denude of one of them. Held that before making his election he could not make up a title to or disentail the second estate.

Word Forms

• succeeds
• succeeding
• succeeded
• succede

Synonyms for succeed

Antonyms for succeed

Related Words

When Should You Use Succeed?

Use succeed when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

Practice This Word

Frequently Asked Questions