- Do you find yourself saying “succeed to do” instead of “succeed in doing”?
- Are you unsure which adverbs best describe a major achievement?
- Do you know the difference between “succeeding in a task” and “succeeding a person”?
Mastering succeed collocations is a vital step toward sounding like a native speaker. In English, the word “succeed” doesn’t just stand alone; it relies on specific prepositions and adverbs to convey precise meaning. Understanding these pairings helps you avoid “translationese” and ensures your professional and academic communication is both accurate and natural.
Common Collocations with Succeed as a Verb
The word “succeed” functions exclusively as a verb. However, it has two distinct meanings: to achieve a goal and to follow someone in a position of power. Let’s explore the most common collocations for each context.
1. Prepositional Collocations (Achieving a Goal)
In 2024 English, “succeed” almost always requires a specific prepositional structure when referring to achievements.
- Succeed in (+ -ing/noun): The most common construction.
Example: “They finally succeeded in launching the app after months of delays.” - Succeed against (all odds): Used when success was unlikely.
Example: “The small startup succeeded against all odds in a competitive market.” - Succeed beyond (expectations): Used when the result is better than planned.
Example: “The new marketing campaign succeeded beyond our wildest expectations.”
2. Adverb Collocations (How success happens)
Native speakers use adverbs to add color and intensity to the verb “succeed.”
- Succeed brilliantly: To do something exceptionally well.
Example: “She succeeded brilliantly in her final medical exams.” - Succeed eventually / ultimately: To succeed after a long time or many trials.
Example: “If you keep practicing, you will succeed eventually.” - Succeed largely: When success is mostly due to one factor.
Example: “The project succeeded largely because of her leadership.” - Succeed admirably: Used to show respect for someone’s achievement.
Example: “He succeeded admirably in balancing work and family life.”
3. Succeeding in a Sequence (Following Someone)
This meaning is common in business, politics, and history.
- Succeed to (the throne/title): Specifically used for royal or inherited positions.
Example: “He is expected to succeed to the throne next year.” - Succeed someone as (role): To take over a specific job from someone else.
Example: “She will succeed Mr. Jones as the CEO in January.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Succeed in doing | Verb + Prep + Gerund | To manage to do something difficult. |
| Succeed brilliantly | Verb + Adverb | To achieve something with great results. |
| Succeed to the throne | Verb + Preposition | To become the next King or Queen. |
| Succeed against the odds | Verb + Prepositional Phrase | To achieve victory despite many problems. |
| Succeed someone as | Verb + Object + Prep | To take over a position from another person. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I succeeded to pass the exam. | I succeeded in passing the exam. |
| He succeeded his goal. | He succeeded in reaching his goal. |
| They succeeded at the end. | They succeeded eventually. |
| She succeeded her father as a doctor. | She followed in her father’s footsteps (unless she literally took his specific job). |
“Regarding the upcoming leadership transition: I am pleased to announce that Sarah will succeed Mark as Department Head. During her interim period, she succeeded admirably in streamlining our workflows. We are confident she will succeed in leading the team toward our Q4 targets and succeed beyond the goals we have set for this year.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Succeed Collocations
Can I say “succeed to do” something?
In modern English, this is considered a mistake. While you might see it in very old literature, in 2024, you must use “succeed in” followed by the -ing form (the gerund). For example, “succeed in finding” is correct, whereas “succeed to find” is not.
What is the difference between “succeed in” and “succeed at”?
“Succeed in” is much more common and is used with activities (succeed in business, succeed in singing). “Succeed at” is occasionally used with specific skills or games (succeed at chess), but “in” remains the safest and most natural choice for English learners.
Does “succeed” always mean “winning”?
No. It can also mean “to come after.” For example, “The night succeeds the day.” In a professional context, if you “succeed” someone, you are taking their place in a hierarchy.
Is “succeeded in reaching” better than “reached”?
“Succeeded in reaching” implies that there was effort or difficulty involved. If you just want to state a fact, use “reached.” Use “succeeded in” when you want to emphasize the triumph over a challenge.
How do I use “succeed” with adverbs like “highly”?
Actually, “highly” is usually paired with the adjective “successful” (e.g., “He is highly successful”). With the verb “succeed,” we prefer adverbs like “greatly,” “brilliantly,” or “largely.”
So, if I'm talking about a king taking the throne after another, it's 'succeed to the throne,' but if a project works, it's 'succeed in the project.' Got it! The difference is crucial.
Precisely, Priya! You've grasped the crucial distinction between 'succeed to' (taking a position from someone) and 'succeed in' (achieving a goal). This clear understanding will greatly enhance your accuracy.
My English teacher always says 'learn chunks, not just words.' This article perfectly demonstrates that principle. 'Succeed in' is a chunk I need to memorize.
Your teacher is absolutely right, Oliver! Learning 'chunks' or collocations is indeed a highly effective strategy for sounding more natural and fluent. 'Succeed in' is a prime example of a chunk worth memorizing. Keep that strategy going across your English learning!
This blog is a lifesaver! I always struggled with 'succeed.' Now I have clear rules. Could you recommend any resources for practicing collocations generally?
We're so glad we could help, Fatima! For practicing collocations, we recommend using a good learners' dictionary that highlights common word pairings (like Oxford Collocations Dictionary or Macmillan Dictionary). Reading extensively in English and actively noting how words are used together is also incredibly effective. You can also try creating your own sentences using new collocations!
The example 'They finally succeeded in launching the app' is perfect. It's so common in tech. I will definitely keep 'succeed in doing' in mind now.
Excellent, Chen! Applying these collocations to real-world scenarios, especially in fields like tech, is a great way to solidify your understanding and make your communication more precise and professional. Keep up the good work!
I'm curious about the historical aspect. Has 'succeed to do' ever been grammatically correct in the past, or has 'succeed in doing' always been the standard for achievements?
That's an insightful historical question, Sophie! While language evolves, 'succeed in doing/noun' has been the predominant and standard collocation for 'achieve a goal' for a very long time in English. 'Succeed to' was never standard for this meaning, though 'succeed to the throne' (meaning to inherit a position) has always been correct for the 'follow someone' meaning, which can add to the confusion.
As a non-native speaker, the prepositional choices for verbs are often the hardest part. 'Succeed in' vs 'succeed at' vs 'succeed to' is a minefield. This article has cleared it up a lot.
You're absolutely right, David. Prepositions with verbs can be tricky even for advanced learners. We're delighted to know that this article has helped clarify the usage for 'succeed.' Consistent exposure and practice will make these distinctions more intuitive.
This is a great mini-lesson! I'd love to see more articles breaking down common verb collocations like this. It's so practical.
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Nia! We're glad you find these focused lessons practical. We definitely plan to cover more common verb collocations in future posts, so stay tuned!
I appreciate the focus on avoiding 'translationese.' It's a real struggle when you're trying to communicate professionally. This makes me want to review other common verbs for similar pitfalls.
That's a brilliant approach, Ricardo! Being mindful of 'translationese' is a hallmark of advanced learners. We encourage you to explore other verbs and their common collocations; it's a very effective way to enhance naturalness and precision in your English.
This article came at the perfect time! I just had a conversation where I said 'succeeded to launch' and immediately felt it sounded wrong. Now I know why! 'Succeeded in launching' sounds so much better.
That's a fantastic real-world connection, Chloe! Your intuition was spot on. Recognizing when something 'sounds wrong' is a sign of great progress in your English learning journey. Keep trusting that feeling and reinforcing with correct collocations!
The 'succeed beyond expectations' phrase is great! I can imagine using that in a business presentation. Are there other similar phrases that emphasize the scale of success?
Absolutely, Kenji! Beyond 'succeed beyond expectations,' you could also say 'succeed remarkably,' 'succeed spectacularly,' or 'succeed with flying colors' (an idiom meaning to succeed outstandingly). These phrases all convey a high degree of achievement!