INDEX:
to succeed in doing something
1. to succeed in doing something
2. to succeed in doing something difficult
3. when something has the result that you want it to have
4. when something happens without any problems at all
5. something that you succeed in doing
to be successful in your work or in business
6. to be successful in your work
7. when a company or product is successful
8. to start to be successful
9. likely to be successful in the future
10. a successful person
11. a successful company or product
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ FAIL
to succeed in a test or examination : ↑ TEST
see also
↑ WIN
↑ EFFECTIVE/NOT EFFECTIVE
◆◆◆
1. to succeed in doing something
▷ succeed /səkˈsiːd/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
to do something that you hoped to do, tried to do, or wanted to do :
▪ She wanted to be the first woman to climb Mount Everest and she almost succeeded.
▪ I tried to reassure Billy’s mother that it was a passing phase, but I don’t think I succeeded.
▪ Muir succeeds where other designers have failed -- her clothes are original, yet stylish.
succeed in doing something
▪ In one year, we’ve succeeded in increasing profits by 40%.
succeed at
▪ I admired Goldie, because she had succeeded at a task that had even defeated my mother.
▷ manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ [intransitive/transitive verb not in progressive]
to succeed in doing something difficult after trying very hard, especially when you almost do not succeed :
▪ Martin still hasn’t got his invalidity pension sorted out, but he’s managing all right at the moment.
▪ If you hadn’t have been here, I don’t think I would have managed.
▪ I don’t know how he managed it, but the crisis is over.
▪ Can you manage that door Mike? It looks awfully heavy.
manage to do something
▪ He finally managed to find an apartment near his office.
▪ At least three hostages managed to escape.
manage with/without something
▪ Well, I suppose we could just about manage without electricity for the night.
▷ be successful /biː səkˈsesf ə l/ [verb phrase]
to succeed in doing something, especially something that needs a lot of work or effort such as passing a test or getting a job :
▪ Does Joey have a realistic chance of being successful at the audition?
be successful in doing something
▪ If I’m successful in raising over £500, those funds will go to the Bible School.
successfully [adverb]
▪ Mr Malik has successfully completed the advanced course in Business Management.
▷ have some success/have limited success /hæv ˌsʌm səkˈses, hæv ˌlɪmə̇tə̇d səkˈses/ [verb phrase]
to be fairly successful in doing something, or to achieve part of what you wanted to achieve :
▪ Our aim was to disrupt the enemy’s transport network and we had some success.
▪ If we only have some success in reducing the number infected with HIV, I feel it will have been worthwhile.
have some success/have limited success in doing something
▪ The Santa Barbara seismic research team has had some success in predicting earthquakes.
▷ make progress /meɪk ˈprəʊgresǁ-ˈprɑː-/ [verb phrase]
to gradually start to achieve something that you want to achieve, by working hard :
▪ I’m not very good at Japanese yet, but I feel I am making progress.
▪ We have made very great progress in reducing the number of deaths on our roads.
make progress with/towards/on
▪ At last I began to make some progress with my research.
make progress in doing something
▪ BEA has made good progress in implementing the new health and safety regulations.
▷ achieve /əˈtʃiːv/ [transitive verb]
to succeed in doing something important, especially something that other people will admire you for :
▪ She’s achieved a lot in the short time she’s been with the company.
▪ The reason I achieve good results is because I work hard -- and so could you.
▪ When you get your MA, you really feel that you’ve achieved something.
▪ He had achieved all his goals for the organization, and felt there were no challenges left there for him.
▷ accomplish /əˈkʌmplɪʃǁəˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ [transitive verb]
to succeed in doing or finishing something good that you have planned to do, after trying hard for a long time :
▪ What exactly do you hope to accomplish this year?
▪ She found the job frustrating, and felt she wasn’t accomplishing anything there.
▷ get results /ˌget rɪˈzʌlts/ [verb phrase]
if you get results, you achieve what you are trying to do :
▪ It was three or four years before we really started getting results.
▪ This shows that if we devote sufficient energy and resources to a problem, we get results.
▪ As I manager, I pride myself on getting results.
2. to succeed in doing something difficult
▷ make it /ˈmeɪk ɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken
to succeed in doing something that is difficult or that seems impossible :
▪ Gina has her driving test today. I hope she makes it.
▪ He went out for it, he played hard, and he made it.
▪ Jody thinks only three teams will make it to the final.
▪ Did Margaret make it home the other night?
▪ Will he make it out alive?
▷ get there /ˈget ðeəʳ/ [verb phrase] especially spoken
to succeed in doing something, especially after a lot of effort over a long period of time :
▪ I aim to have my own company by the time I’m thirty, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get there.
▪ Anna found the coursework hard, but knew she’d get there in the end.
▪ I knew we’d get there eventually, it was just a question of when.
▷ do it /ˈduː ɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] especially spoken
to succeed in doing something, especially something difficult or something that needs a lot of effort :
▪ We did it! We won the cup!
▪ You did it! Congratulations!
▷ pull off/bring off/carry off /ˌpʊl ˈɒf, ˌbrɪŋ ˈɒf, ˌkæri ˈɒf/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to manage to do something difficult, when other people did not think that you could succeed :
pull/bring/carry off something
▪ In the opening game, Italy pulled off a sensational 1-0 victory over Germany.
▪ I think you need a really good sense of humour to carry off something like this.
▪ We had a hard time bringing off the last conference we held here.
pull/bring/carry something off
▪ I’d hardly cooked a proper meal for years, and I was wondering if I could still pull it off.
▪ I doubt if we could have carried it off without your help.
▷ turn up trumps/come up trumps /ˌtɜːʳn ʌp ˈtrʌmps, ˌkʌm ʌp ˈtrʌmps/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
if someone comes or turns up trumps, they succeed in doing something difficult or providing something that is needed, especially when this makes you feel pleased or grateful :
▪ We were getting into serious difficulties, but Ron came up trumps again.
▪ Well, I got three people interested in helping, so if they all turn up trumps, we should reach our target.
3. when something has the result that you want it to have
▷ succeed /səkˈsiːd/ [intransitive verb not in progressive]
if something that you plan to do or try to do succeeds, you get the result that you hoped for :
▪ Both sides could make these talks succeed by seeking a real and lasting peace.
▪ As long as the financial crisis continues, economic reform cannot possibly succeed.
succeed in doing something
▪ None of the measures taken by the government have succeeded in reducing the spread of violent crime.
▷ successful /səkˈsesf ə l/ [adjective]
if something that you plan to do or try to do is successful you get the result that you hoped for :
▪ If the treatment is successful, she could be back at school next month.
▪ a small but successful program to boost the number of African-Americans getting into college
highly successful
very successful
▪ It was a highly successful campaign.
the most successful
▪ This has been Baltimore’s most successful art show ever.
so successful (. . . that)
▪ The case of Thailand illustrates why family planning programs have been so successful in many countries.
prove successful
be successful
▪ The scheme was started in January 2000, and has proved largely successful.
successfully [adverb]
▪ The film successfully combines a good story line with a serious political message.
▷ work /wɜːʳk/ [intransitive verb]
if a plan or method works, it produces the result that you want :
▪ ‘I can’t open this jar.’ ‘Try putting it under hot water. That sometimes works.’
▪ I think your treatment worked Arnie, my headache’s gone.
▪ The recipe works just as well if you cook the fish in a microwave.
▷ go well /ˌgəʊ ˈwel/ [verb phrase]
if something goes well, such as a meeting, party, or performance, everything happens in the way you wanted and there are no problems :
▪ Ray met my parents for the first time this weekend, and it went really well.
▪ The audition was OK, but it could have gone better I suppose.
▪ Most people seem to think the party went well.
go well for
▪ Good luck with the project, and I hope everything goes well for you.
▷ have some success /hæv ˌsʌm səkˈses/ [verb phrase]
if a plan, method etc has some success, it is fairly successful :
▪ The early warning system has had some success; for example Pacific coast residents get four hours notice of a potential earthquake.
▪ Only in the late 1990s did efforts to reduce sectarian violence have some success.
▷ come out right/turn out right /ˌkʌm aʊt ˈraɪt, ˌtɜːʳn aʊt ˈraɪt/ [verb phrase not usually in progressive]
if something comes out right or turns out right, it succeeds in the end when it had seemed as though it would fail :
▪ People enjoy romantic fiction because it offers a reassurance that things will always come out right.
▪ Just when it looks as though everything will turn out right, tragedy strikes and Jenny dies of a fatal illness.
come out right in the end
▪ She’s scared she’ll fail her exams, but I think everything’ll come out right in the end.
▷ come off /ˌkʌm ˈɒf/ [intransitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if something that you arrange such as a party or trip comes off, it happens successfully even though there are problems in arranging it :
▪ We had hoped to organize a trip to the theatre tonight, but it didn’t come off.
▪ Good try Tim. Shame it didn’t quite come off.
▷ pay off /ˌpeɪ ˈɒf/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if hard work, effort, a risk etc pays off, it has a successful result at a later time :
▪ I think if you show a bit more consideration for other road users, you’ll find it pays off.
▪ We put a lot of hard work into local initiatives, and that’s really starting to pay off now.
▷ bear fruit /ˌbeəʳ ˈfruːt/ [verb phrase]
if a plan, idea, or action bears fruit, it has the successful result that it was intended to have, especially after a long period of time :
▪ The campaign for debt relief will not bear fruit for another two or three years.
▪ I hope you feel your involvement has been worthwhile and has borne fruit.
▷ fruitful /ˈfruːtf ə l/ [adjective]
a meeting, discussion etc that is fruitful is successful, useful, and produces good results :
▪ So far, the investigation has not been very fruitful.
▪ This was one of the most fruitful debates of the conference.
▪ If the talks prove fruitful, the working groups will start bargaining in May.
4. when something happens without any problems at all
▷ go like clockwork /ˌgəʊ laɪk ˈklɒkwɜːʳkǁ-ˈklɑːk-/ [verb phrase]
if something you have arranged such as an event or journey goes like clockwork, it happens in exactly the way that was planned, with no problems at all :
▪ After all that fuss, everything went like clockwork. You should have seen it.
▪ ‘Everything go all right?’ ‘Like clockwork.’
▪ All through that summer, work on the farm went like clockwork.
▷ go smoothly /ˌgəʊ ˈsmuːðli/ [verb phrase]
if a planned event, journey, piece of work etc goes smoothly, there are no problems to spoil it :
▪ If all goes smoothly, elections are expected in May.
▪ In rehearsal, everything went smoothly, even the difficult fight scenes.
▪ My presentation went remarkably smoothly, until one student asked an awkward question right at the end.
▷ without a hitch /wɪðˌaʊt ə ˈhɪtʃ/ [adverb]
if a planned action or event happens without a hitch, it happens exactly as planned with no problems at all, even though some may have been expected :
▪ The first phase of the operation was completed without a hitch.
▪ TCI say they hope that approval will be granted for the takeover without a hitch.
▪ Except for the priest forgetting the groom’s middle name, the ceremony came off without a hitch.
▷ go according to plan /gəʊ əˌkɔːʳdɪŋ tə ˈplæn/ [verb phrase]
if something that has been carefully planned goes according to plan, it happens in exactly the way you planned it would :
▪ Development of our new computer system is going according to plan and it should be in operation by October.
5. something that you succeed in doing
▷ success /səkˈses/ [countable/uncountable noun]
when someone or something is successful :
▪ The president believed that his approach was the only one with any chance of success.
▪ After her recent successes in Tokyo and New York, Bjork has returned to perform in England.
▪ Auster was surprised at the success of his latest novel.
▪ Critics have been astonished at the film’s success.
be a success
▪ The concert was a great success.
success in
▪ Success in business depends on hard work, determination, and good ideas.
(a) big/huge/outstanding etc success
▪ Many first-class students go on to have even greater success.
▷ achievement /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ [countable noun]
something important that you succeed in doing by your own efforts and that other people admire :
▪ Winning three gold medals is a remarkable achievement.
▪ They read about his achievements in the press, and were filled with pride.
▪ He didn’t realize until much later what a spectacular achievement his father made in getting his commission as an officer.
▪ Todd always downplayed his athletic achievements.
▷ progress /ˈprəʊgresǁˈprɑː-/ [uncountable noun]
when you gradually get closer to the result you want to achieve :
▪ We are very pleased with your son’s progress at school.
▪ a progress report
progress in
▪ Progress in technology has changed people’s lives dramatically.
progress towards
▪ We are making steady progress towards equal status for men and women.
make progress
▪ Yes, we’ve made progress. But there’s so much more to do.
▪ The two sides are making some progress toward a compromise.
▷ breakthrough /ˈbreɪkθruː/ [countable noun]
an important discovery or achievement, especially one that happens suddenly after people have been trying for a long time :
▪ This was an important breakthrough that had an enormous impact on the scientific community.
breakthrough in
▪ Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the treatment of AIDS.
▪ The technique is being described as a breakthrough in the field of tele-medicine.
make a breakthrough
▪ Police say they have made a breakthrough in their search for the killer of Diane Sutton.
▷ accomplishment /əˈkʌmplɪʃməntǁəˈkɑːm-, əˈkʌm-/ [countable noun]
something good that someone has succeeded in doing and that they are proud of doing :
▪ The Society is giving a dinner for top businesswomen, to reward and recognize their accomplishments.
▪ The team’s undefeated run this year is an outstanding accomplishment.
▪ The establishment of full diplomatic relations with China was a major accomplishment of the Carter administration.
6. to be successful in your work
▷ be successful also be a success /biː səkˈsesf ə l, biː ə səkˈses/ [verb phrase]
to earn a lot of money or to become well known and respected, because you do your job very well :
▪ Five years ago he started his own business and now he’s very successful.
▪ I’m glad we appointed Cyril - he’s proved to be a great success.
▪ In order to be successful as a dancer, you need flair and stamina.
▪ He’s leaving the company, despite having been a big success as marketing manager.
▪ People who are successful in their careers have found out what they like and do well.
▷ do well /ˌduː ˈwel/ [verb phrase]
to be successful in your job, especially because you work hard :
▪ Gail seemed so anxious to do well, and she worked really hard.
▪ When the players do well, I praise them -- but there are no rewards for coming second.
▪ Neither of the kids was doing well in school.
▪ Most of his tutors expected him to do well at Harvard.
▪ My friend left college and went into law, and he’s doing very well for himself.
▷ get on/get ahead /ˌget ˈɒn, ˌget əˈhed/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to be successful in your job, especially because you have a very strong desire to succeed :
▪ The people who get on are the ones who create their own opportunities.
▪ My father’s experience taught me a memorable lesson in how to get ahead.
get on in life/the world
▪ You may not like having to agree with everything the boss says, but often that’s the way to get on in life.
▪ If you want to get ahead in this world, kid, never take ‘no’ for an answer.
▷ make it /ˈmeɪk ɪt/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to become successful, especially in the sports or entertainment business :
▪ He was a talented football player and I knew he’d make it.
▪ We’ve fought long and hard to get where we are, and we deserve to make it.
make it big
become very successful
▪ Many actors move to America, hoping to make it big in Hollywood.
make it on your own
without any help from anyone
▪ Get as much advice from colleagues as you can - it can be difficult trying to make it on your own.
▷ succeed /səkˈsiːd/ [intransitive verb not usually in progressive]
to become successful in your job by doing it well and continuing to work at it for a fairly long time :
▪ People who have had setbacks are often the ones who are really driven to succeed.
▪ a strong desire to succeed
succeed as a teacher/actor/musician etc
▪ If you don’t change your attitude, you will never succeed as a manager in this firm.
succeed at
▪ My parents always told me I’d succeed at anything I chose to do.
succeed in
▪ A lot of people doubted that I could succeed in business for myself.
▷ rise to the top /ˌraɪz tə ðə ˈtɒpǁ-ˈtɑːp/ [verb phrase]
to get better and better jobs in a company, organization, or profession so that eventually you have one of the most important jobs in it :
▪ Those who rise to the top in advertising can expect to earn in excess of $100,000.
▪ I think we all like to believe that if someone is made of the right stuff, they will rise to the top.
▪ A consummate professional, he rose to the top of the most competitive organization in the country.
▷ work your way up /ˌwɜːʳk jɔːʳ weɪ ˈʌp/ [verb phrase]
to work very hard in your job so that eventually you reach an important and high position :
▪ While she was working her way up from dishwasher to chef, she was studying at night school to improve her grades.
work your way up to the top
▪ He started two years ago as an admin assistant, and worked his way up to the top.
▷ make your mark /ˌmeɪk jɔːʳ ˈmɑːʳk/ [verb phrase]
to be successful in your job so that people notice you and respect your ability, especially because of a particular piece of work you have done :
▪ In his early twenties, Terry was the typical ambitious graduate, full of ideas and eager to make his mark.
▪ She instantly made her mark with a series of award-winning ad campaigns for high-profile clients.
▷ further/advance your career /ˌfɜʳːðəʳ, ədˌvɑːns jɔːʳ kəˈrɪəʳǁ-ˌvæns-/ [verb phrase]
to gain more important and better paid jobs in your chosen area of work, especially by doing things that will get you noticed by more important people that you work with :
▪ First, take a look at what you personally can do to advance your career.
▪ In recent weeks, Janet has become aware that her colleague Alan has been using her to further his own career.
7. when a company or product is successful
▷ be successful /biː səkˈsesf ə l/ [verb phrase]
▪ Unless we make a product that people want, we are not going to be successful.
▪ To be successful, agencies must have in place a first-rate financial management system.
▪ The new playstation has been less successful than the previous version.
▪ The campaign was so successful that Harvard Business School adopted it as a case study.
▷ do well /ˌduː ˈwel/ [verb phrase]
if a company or product does well, it is successful, especially in difficult conditions or when it has not existed for very long :
▪ If the firm does well, your shares will be worth far more than you paid for them.
▪ The producer would only say that sales of the video were ‘doing very well indeed.’
▷ be a success /biː ə səkˈses/ [verb phrase]
if a company, product, film etc is a success, it makes a lot of money because a lot of people use it, buy it, or go to see it :
▪ There was a lot of uncertainty about whether or not the picture would be a success.
▪ We’ve started our own business. If it’s a success we should be earning at least $3,000 per month.
▪ The movie was, not surprisingly, a huge commercial success for Jordan.
▪ The show was an even bigger success than he had dreamed.
▷ succeed /səkˈsiːd/ [intransitive verb not usually in progressive]
if a company or product succeeds, it becomes successful and can continue to do business or be produced :
▪ Even in remote areas people open restaurants, and surprisingly enough, they succeed.
▪ Who’d think of designing a virtual rock-climbing game? Microsoft did, and it succeeded.
▷ thrive /θraɪv/ [intransitive verb]
if a company, or industry thrives, it is very successful, especially because economic conditions are good or because a lot of people want to buy or use its products :
▪ The IT explosion means that telecommunications companies are thriving.
▪ It is still unclear whether dotcom companies will continue to thrive in the long-term future.
thriving [adjective]
▪ a thriving organic supermarket
▷ prosper /ˈprɒspəʳǁˈprɑː-/ [intransitive verb]
if a company, or industry prospers, it is successful and is able to make good profits because of good economic conditions or good management :
▪ Over the next few years, our little bar prospered and grew in popularity.
▪ India’s software companies have prospered by keeping costs to a bare minimum.
8. to start to be successful
▷ take off /ˌteɪk ˈɒf/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if a product, company, your job etc takes off, it suddenly starts being successful :
▪ Her singing career took off after an appearance on Johnny Carson’s "Tonight' show in America.
▪ Before you knew it, 11 companies had settled here, and the place really took off.
▷ be on the way up /biː ɒn ðə ˌweɪ ˈʌp/ [verb phrase]
to be becoming richer, more successful etc :
▪ He’s not that famous a musician at the moment, but he’s definitely on the way up.
▪ starter homes for young couples on the way up
▷ up-and-coming /ˌʌp ən ˈkʌmɪŋ◂/ [adjective phrase only before noun]
up-and-coming artist/player/executive etc
an artist, player etc, especially a young one, who is getting more and more successful and who will probably soon be famous :
▪ Many up-and-coming young players have trials for the national football team.
▪ an award for the best up-and-coming comic actress
▷ be going places /biː ˈgəʊɪŋ ˌpleɪsə̇z/ [verb phrase]
if you say that a person or company is going places, you mean that they are already achieving success and will probably be even more successful in the future :
▪ Alvin was part of it all now. Only 24, and he was going places.
▪ This company is clearly one that is going places.
▷ be on the up and up /biː ɒn ði ˌʌp ənd ˈʌp/ [verb phrase] British
to be getting more successful all the time :
▪ A gliding club that started in a local farmer’s barn says business is on the up and up.
▪ We lost at Oxford, but since then we’ve been on the up and up and won our last four games.
9. likely to be successful in the future
▷ have potential /hæv pəˈtenʃ ə l/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
if a person, company, or product has potential, they are likely to be successful in the future, especially if they develop in the right way :
▪ Slater has enormous potential, and should soon be playing football for England.
▪ She realized that cosmetics made from natural products had great commercial potential.
reach/fulfil/realize/achieve your (full) potential
be as successful as you have the ability to be
▪ Sadly, many students leave before they have the opportunity to achieve their potential.
▷ promising /ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ, ˈprɒməsɪŋǁˈprɑː-/ [adjective]
likely, but not certain, to be very successful :
▪ Jonathan is one of our most promising employees.
▪ Matthew is a promising young dancer with lots of stage personality.
▪ Peter gave up a promising career in chemical engineering to become a priest.
▷ will go far/will go a long way /wɪl ˌgəʊ ˈfɑːʳ, wɪl ˌgəʊ ə ˌlɒŋ ˈweɪǁ-ˌlɔːŋ-/ [verb phrase]
if someone will go far or will go a long way, they will be very successful, especially because they have shown natural ability in something or shown that they have the right sort of character to do something :
▪ I remember watching her play, and thinking ‘she’ll go far.’
▪ If this team keeps its mind on nothing but football, it will go a long, long way.
▷ have a great/bright future /hæv ə ˌgreɪt, ˌbraɪt ˈfjuːtʃəʳ/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to be likely to be successful in whatever you choose to do as a job, especially because you are clever or have natural ability in something :
▪ He is a successful student with a bright future.
▪ Billy Joe has a great future in this team.
▪ A man like you could have a great future here, but you’ve got to prove yourself.
have a great/bright future ahead of you
▪ She was an attractive girl with a bright future ahead of her when her life was cut short in a tragic car accident.
10. a successful person
▷ successful /səkˈsesf ə l/ [adjective]
use this about a successful person or a job in which someone is successful :
successful businessman/star/lawyer etc
▪ Three years ago she married a successful businessman, and now she never sees her old friends.
▪ a rich, successful entrepreneur
▪ Eddie Murphy is one of Hollywood’s most successful stars.
▪ After a long run in the band Genesis, he had a successful solo career.
▷ high flyer /ˌhaɪ ˈflaɪəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who is extremely successful in their job, especially because they have an unusually high level of ability :
▪ High flyers can expect promotion to Branch Manager by the time they’re 30.
▪ Jupe is an academic high-flyer and a gifted administrator.
▪ The potential high flyers of the diplomatic service usually join as administrative trainees.
high-flying [adjective]
▪ Veronica is a high-flying young solicitor who lives in one of the more exclusive suburbs of Paris.
▷ achiever /əˈtʃiːvəʳ/ [countable noun]
someone who is determined, who works hard, and who is very successful at whatever they do :
▪ Christopher came from a comfortable family of upper-middle-class achievers.
▪ I guess it was clear to everyone that I was bright and an achiever.
high achiever
▪ The study shows that only-children tend to be high achievers in school.
▷ be a success story /biː ə səkˈses ˌstɔːri/ [verb phrase]
if someone’s life or job is a success story, they have been very successful, especially when they start from a low position or from a situation that does not give them many advantages :
▪ His life has been the classic American success story, from rags to riches.
▪ Richard is one of our success stories -- by accepting voluntary work, he was spared a prison sentence.
▪ Hill represents a police success story, having risen up through the ranks to become chief inspector.
11. a successful company or product
▷ successful /səkˈsesf ə l/ [adjective]
▪ What are the features that characterized the successful corporations of the past?
▪ He returned to Merseyside after a successful tour with Johnny Gentle.
▪ Our most successful product is based on a very simple idea.
▪ Gradually, word spread, and we built up a very successful business indeed.
▷ thriving /ˈθraɪvɪŋ/ [adjective]
a company, organization, or industry that is thriving is very successful, especially because economic conditions are good or because a lot of people want to buy or use their products :
▪ The nearby malls are thriving, and there’s no need for another regional shopping centre.
▪ He expanded the shipping trade and left a thriving business to his son.
▪ the thriving fast-food and soft drinks industry
▷ booming /ˈbuːmɪŋ/ [adjective]
a company or industry that is booming is extremely successful at a particular time, especially because economic conditions are good :
▪ The need for personal protection has led to a booming private security industry here.
▪ Every day, we hear that the IT industry is booming, but where’s the real evidence of that?
business is booming
used to say that you are selling a lot of products and making a lot of money
▪ One company that specializes in fitting old computers with new parts says business is booming.
▷ success story /səkˈses ˌstɔːri/ [singular noun]
if a company or product is a success story, it has become extremely successful, especially suddenly :
▪ Tonight, we’re going to hear about another business success story from the North East.
▪ Well, the success story might never have happened if the entrepreneur had taken the advice of his bank.