succeeded him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "succeeded him" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has taken over a position or role from another person. Example: "After the CEO retired, Jane was appointed to the position and succeeded him."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His son Muḥammad succeeded him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Costikyan succeeded him.

The New York Times

Mrs. Megawati succeeded him.

The New York Times

Joe Walton, the offensive coordinator, succeeded him.

The New York Times - Sports

In 1918 he succeeded him as pres.

The New Yorker

His sons Hippias and Hipparchus succeeded him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His son James I succeeded him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Kani, the sole candidate, succeeded him.

The Guardian

F. Redmond, & Henry J. Leake succeeded him.

The New Yorker

His son, Faure Gnassingbé, succeeded him as president.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His equally tyrannical son, King Sua, "Tiger," succeeded him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "succeeded him", ensure the context clearly indicates the position or role being transferred. For example, "John succeeded him as CEO" is clearer than "John succeeded him."

Common error

Avoid using "succeeded he" instead of "succeeded him". The correct pronoun is the objective case, "him", not the nominative case, "he".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "succeeded him" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone has taken over a position, role, or title from another person. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse sources to illustrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

25%

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "succeeded him" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that one person has taken over a position or role from another. As Ludwig's AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, from encyclopedias and news articles to more informal writings. When employing this phrase, clarity is key: ensure the context makes it evident what position or role is being transferred. While alternatives like "took his place" or "replaced him" exist, "succeeded him" remains a straightforward and versatile choice for expressing succession.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

took his place

This phrase emphasizes the act of replacing someone in a specific position.

replaced him

Indicates a direct substitution, often in a formal context.

followed him in office

Specifically refers to succeeding someone in an official role.

assumed his position

Highlights the act of taking on responsibilities previously held by another.

came after him

A more general term indicating a sequential order of roles.

inherited his role

Suggests the succession was due to inheritance or pre-determined succession.

stepped into his shoes

An idiomatic expression implying taking on the responsibilities and challenges of the predecessor.

superseded him

Suggests that the person that succeeded him is better than him.

acted as his successor

A formal phrase emphasizing the role of being the next in line.

rose to his mantle

A literary phrase that indicates someone has risen to take responsibilities of high importance.

FAQs

How to use "succeeded him" in a sentence?

You can use "succeeded him" to indicate that someone has taken over a position or role from another person. For example, "After the CEO retired, Jane was appointed to the position and "succeeded him"."

What can I say instead of "succeeded him"?

You can use alternatives like "took his place", "replaced him", or "followed him in office" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "succeeded by him" instead of "succeeded him"?

While both phrases relate to succession, they have different meanings. "Succeeded him" means someone took over from him. "Succeeded by him" is grammatically incorrect, the right phrase should be "He was succeeded by..." and means he was replaced by someone.

What's the difference between "succeeded him" and "followed him"?

"Succeeded him" implies a direct replacement in a specific role or position, while "followed him" can simply indicate coming after someone in a sequence or timeline without necessarily taking over the same role.