/ səkˈsiːd; NAmE / verb
1.
[ v ] succeed (in doing sth) to achieve sth that you have been trying to do or get; to have the result or effect that was intended :
Our plan succeeded.
He succeeded in getting a place at art school.
I tried to discuss it with her but only succeeded in making her angry (= I failed and did the opposite of what I intended) .
—see also success
2.
[ v ] succeed (in sth) | succeed (as sth) to be successful in your job, earning money, power, respect, etc. :
You will have to work hard if you are to succeed.
She doesn't have the ruthlessness required to succeed in business.
He had hoped to succeed as a violinist.
—see also success
3.
[ vn ] to come next after sb/sth and take their/its place or position
SYN follow :
Who succeeded Kennedy as President?
Their early success was succeeded by a period of miserable failure.
Strands of DNA are reproduced through succeeding generations .
—see also succession
4.
[ v ] succeed (to sth) to gain the right to a title, property, etc. when sb dies :
She succeeded to the throne (= became queen) in 1558.
—see also succession
•
IDIOMS
- nothing succeeds like success
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French succeder or Latin succedere come close after, from sub- close to + cedere go.