succeeded

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "succeeded" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has achieved a desired outcome or goal. Example: "After months of hard work, she finally succeeded in launching her own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They succeeded.

The New York Times

Of the country's 44 referendums, only eight have succeeded.

The Guardian

It succeeded.

The New York Times - Sports

"That's just what I intend to do in this book with a reductive analysis of people who have succeeded at something".

The Guardian - Books

McGowan says it will be days before it is known whether she has beaten Mirabella, but said she has succeeded in making the seat of Indi marginal.

The Guardian

After a second stab at devolution succeeded in 1998-99, the SNP worked to the general principle that it would not meddle in exclusively English affairs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Had Arsène Wenger been able to ask for a view of the latter incident he would probably have succeeded in having the goal chalked off for offside – the foul was less clear-cut – and that would have been justice.

The Guardian - Sport

It is the team's worst run since 1977 but with only four games – at Leicester and QPR and at home to West Brom and West Ham – remaining it is surely too late for Ashley to replace with a Red Adair a coach set to be succeeded by Derby's Steve McClaren this summer.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet neither has formally declared a presidential bid, and neither has succeeded in pulling away from a second-tier bunch of candidates including senators Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.

The Guardian

World Series Cup one-dayers probably would have succeeded no matter which corporate partner forked over the cash and plastered its name on the banner, but there remains something powerful and resonant about the marriage of sport and commerce that was the Benson and Hedges series'.

The Guardian - Sport

Not only has he succeeded John Hume, his mentor and a political giant in the landscape of Irish nationalism, but he has also taken on the redoubtable Seamus Mallon's role as deputy first minister in the power-sharing government.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "succeeded" with adverbs like "finally", "eventually", or "easily" to add nuance to the description of the achievement.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "succeeded" (achieved a goal) with "followed" (came after in sequence). For example, "She succeeded in her role as CEO" (achieved success) is different from "She followed him as CEO" (took over the position).

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "succeeded" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb succeed. It indicates that an action or endeavor has been brought to a successful conclusion. Ludwig AI confirms it follows standard grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

15%

Books

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "succeeded" is the past tense of the verb succeed, indicating the achievement of a goal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and very common usage. While "succeeded" is versatile across registers, it is most frequently found in "News & Media", "Sport", and "Books". Alternatives include "achieved" and "accomplished". Avoid confusing it with "followed". Using "succeeded" effectively involves pairing it with adverbs and ensuring it accurately reflects the attainment of a specific objective. Ludwig's examples showcase its widespread application in conveying success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved

Replaces "succeeded" with a focus on the accomplishment itself.

accomplished

Similar to "achieved", but often implies a greater degree of skill or effort.

managed to

Indicates that effort was required and the outcome wasn't guaranteed.

was successful

Emphasizes the state of being successful rather than the act of succeeding.

prevailed

Suggests overcoming obstacles or opposition.

triumphed

Conveys a sense of victory or great success, often in a competitive context.

attained

Highlights the achievement of a specific goal or level.

brought about

Focuses on causing a specific result or outcome.

realized

Implies turning an idea or plan into reality.

flourished

Suggests thriving and achieving a high degree of success or prosperity.

FAQs

How can I use "succeeded" in a sentence?

"Succeeded" is used to indicate that someone has achieved a desired outcome or goal. For example, "After months of hard work, she "succeeded" in launching her own business."

What can I say instead of "succeeded"?

You can use alternatives like "achieved", "accomplished", or "managed to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "succeeded in" or "succeeded at"?

"Succeeded in" is generally preferred when followed by a gerund (verb + -ing), while "succeeded at" can be used more broadly. Both are grammatically sound but "succeeded in" is far more common.

What's the difference between "succeeded" and "thrived"?

"Succeeded" implies reaching a specific goal, while "thrived" suggests growing and flourishing, often over a longer period. "Succeeded" is about achievement; "thrived" is about sustained well-being and growth.