to succeed

USAGE SUMMARY

"to succeed" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence: "She was determined to succeed despite all obstacles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To succeed Austan Goolsbee?

The New Yorker

He wants to succeed.

The New York Times

"He's not afraid to succeed.

The New Yorker

We don't have to succeed".

The New Yorker

We wanted it to succeed".

The New York Times

"I want him to succeed.

The New York Times

To succeed, nations must unite.

The New York Times

Black comedies seem to succeed.

The Economist

I wanted them to succeed.

The New York Times - Magazine

They look unlikely to succeed.

The Economist

We want Egypt to succeed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to succeed" when you want to emphasize the effort and intention towards achieving a goal. It often implies overcoming challenges or obstacles.

Common error

Avoid using "to succeed" when a more specific verb like "achieve", "accomplish", or "attain" would better reflect the nature of the success. The phrase is general, so choose a word that adds precision to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to succeed" is as an infinitive verb phrase, often used to express purpose or intention. This is seen in Ludwig examples such as "He wants "to succeed"" and "To succeed, nations must unite". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to succeed" is a grammatically correct and very common infinitive verb phrase used to express the purpose or intention of achieving a goal. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. It's prevalent in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Wiki contexts, suggesting a broad applicability. When writing, ensure that the level of specificity of the phrase aligns with your intended meaning and choose more descriptive verbs when necessary. The wealth of examples provided by Ludwig confirms that this is a safe and widely understood expression in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to achieve success

Focuses more explicitly on the achievement of success, whereas the original phrase is broader.

to accomplish something

Highlights the act of completing or achieving a specific task or goal.

to attain a goal

Emphasizes the reaching of a specific, defined objective.

to prosper

Implies thriving and flourishing, often in a financial or material sense.

to flourish

Suggests a more general sense of thriving and developing well.

to make it

An informal way of saying "to succeed", often implying overcoming obstacles.

to come out on top

Indicates achieving victory or success, especially after a struggle.

to win out

Highlights the element of winning or prevailing in a situation.

to inherit

Specifically refers to succeeding in terms of inheriting something, like a title or estate.

to follow

Focuses on succeeding in terms of following in a sequence or order.

FAQs

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

You can use "to succeed" to express the intention or possibility of achieving a goal, as in "She worked hard to succeed in her career", or "Entrepreneurs need infrastructure "to thrive"".

What are some alternatives to "to succeed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "to achieve success", "to accomplish something", or "to attain a goal".

Is it correct to say "for succeed" instead of "to succeed"?

No, "for succeed" is grammatically incorrect. The infinitive form "to succeed" is required when expressing purpose or intention.

What's the difference between "to succeed" and "succeeding"?

"To succeed" is the infinitive form of the verb, often used to express purpose. "Succeeding" is the present participle or gerund form, used in continuous tenses or as a noun (e.g., "Succeeding requires hard work").