almost succeed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost succeed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something came close to achieving success but did not fully accomplish it. Example: "Despite their best efforts, they almost succeed in completing the project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

They almost succeed in baking him into a "morning cake".

The New York Times - Books

And at times Mr. Frears and his cast almost succeed in making this odd contraption work.

The New York Times

Vibrantly directed at Two River by Matthew Arbour, it features a hardworking cast of five nonmusicians who struggle, and almost succeed, at looking like real players.

The New York Times

At times, we almost succeed in glimpsing her cagey subject, of whom, Byrne maintains, only one "incontestably authentic" image exists, rendered in Cassandra's diffident hand.

The New York Times - Books

In the vegan pho, kelp, Chinese preserved vegetable, salted cabbage, lotus roots, leeks and dried shiitakes do their best to equal meat — and almost succeed.

The New York Times - Food

Roger Deakins's seductive camera work and Rick Heinrich's production design almost succeed in tying the movie together; both are shown off to particular advantage in lavish dream sequences that look like Busby Berkeley on Ecstasy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He almost succeeded.

The New York Times

"They almost succeeded".

The New York Times

Last year, she almost succeeded.

The Washington Post

It almost succeeds.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The effort almost succeeded.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost succeed" to accurately portray situations where an effort came very close to achieving the desired outcome, providing a nuanced understanding of the result. For instance, "They "almost succeed" in getting the film pulled from theaters".

Common error

Avoid using "almost succeed" when the action was fully completed. "Almost succeed" indicates an incomplete action, not a completed one. Instead of "They almost succeed in their mission", use "They succeeded in their mission" if the mission was completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost succeed" functions as a verbal phrase indicating an action that was close to completion but ultimately not achieved. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost succeed" effectively communicates a near-miss or an action that came close to achieving its intended goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and appropriateness across various contexts. While versatile, it's essential to distinguish it from "succeed", which indicates full accomplishment. Related phrases like "nearly achieve" and "come close to succeeding" offer alternative ways to convey a similar meaning. Remember, use "almost succeed" when you want to highlight effort and proximity to success, while acknowledging that the goal was not fully realized. It's usage frequency is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly achieve

Focuses on the attainment aspect, implying a close margin of accomplishment.

come close to succeeding

Emphasizes the proximity to success, highlighting the effort made.

fall just short of success

Highlights the failure to achieve success despite being close.

approach success

Suggests progress towards success without reaching it.

almost accomplish

Focuses on the accomplishment aspect, similar to "nearly achieve".

border on succeeding

Suggests being at the edge of success.

nearing success

Similar to approaching success, indicating progress.

on the verge of success

Indicates imminent success.

be within reach of success

Highlights the attainability of success.

make a near attempt at success

Emphasizes that there was a near attempt made to achieve success, but it was not accomplished.

FAQs

How can I use "almost succeed" in a sentence?

Use "almost succeed" to describe a situation where someone or something nearly achieved a goal but ultimately did not. For example, "The team "almost succeed" in winning the championship, but lost in the final seconds".

What is a good substitute for "almost succeed"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly achieve", "come close to succeeding", or "fall just short of success" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "almost succeeded"?

Yes, "almost succeeded" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. For example, "They "almost succeeded" in reaching their target, but were stopped by unforeseen circumstances".

What is the difference between "almost succeed" and "succeed"?

"Succeed" indicates the successful completion of a goal, while "almost succeed" indicates that the goal was not fully achieved, even though it came close. They have opposite meanings so use them with caution, because they can change completely the message.