What Does "succeed in" Mean?
- Meaning: The expression "succeed in" means to achieve a desired aim, result, or level of prosperity in a specific area or activity. It denotes the successful completion of a task or the attainment of a goal.
- Compositional vs. Semi-idiomatic: It is a compositional collocation. The verb "succeed" retains its core meaning of achieving success, while the preposition "in" specifies the domain or the action where that success occurs.
- Register: This phrase is neutral to formal. It is equally appropriate in academic papers, business reports, journalism, and everyday professional conversation.
How to Use It
- Grammatical pattern: The most common patterns are succeed in + [gerund (-ing form)] or succeed in + [noun/noun phrase].
- Typical objects: It is often followed by abstract nouns like business, life, attaining, reaching, or specific locations and domains like England or the tech industry.
- Separability: The components are generally not separated. You do not place the object between "succeed" and "in."
- What sounds unnatural: Using an infinitive (e.g., "succeed to do") is a common error that sounds non-native. Additionally, while "succeed at" is sometimes used for skills, "succeed in" remains the standard for activities and general domains.
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from succeed in on Ludwig.guru.
"Unfortunately, not many succeed in doing this." — nytimes.com
"Sometimes we succeed in addressing the complaint." — nytimes.com
"He is likely to succeed in that." — economist.com
"How to Survive and Succeed in College?" — stanford.edu
"But no NGO can succeed in isolation." — theguardian.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| manage to |
Followed by an infinitive; emphasizes the difficulty overcome to achieve the result. |
| triumph in |
Much more formal and dramatic; implies a grand victory or overcoming great odds. |
| excel in |
Focuses on being exceptionally good at something rather than just completing a task. |
| achieve success in |
A more verbose, formal alternative often used in professional or academic contexts. |
| pull off |
Informal phrasal verb; used when someone succeeds in doing something unexpected or difficult. |
Common Mistakes
- The Infinitive Error: Learners often use the wrong preposition or an infinitive, saying "succeed to do" or "succeed at" instead of "succeed in doing." The gerund (-ing) is the required form after the preposition "in."
- Preposition Confusion: While you can "succeed at" a game or a specific task, you "succeed in" a field, a mission, or an effort. Using "succeed on" is almost always incorrect unless referring to a physical surface.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Meaning |
Grammatical Pattern |
Register |
| succeed in |
To achieve a goal or be prosperous in a specific area. |
succeed in + [gerund] / [noun] |
Neutral to Formal |
FAQs
Can I separate the verb succeed from the preposition in with another word?
No, succeed in is an inseparable collocation where the preposition must immediately follow the verb. You should not place an object between them, though you can occasionally place an adverb like "finally" or "eventually" before the verb or between the two for emphasis.
What is the difference between succeed in and manage to?
The phrase succeed in requires a gerund (the -ing form) and sounds more formal or descriptive of a general state. In contrast, manage to is followed by a base verb (infinitive) and specifically highlights that the task was difficult or required significant effort.
Why is it wrong to say I succeeded to finish the project?
This is a common grammatical error because the verb succeed does not license an infinitive complement. Learners often use the wrong preposition or an infinitive, saying "succeed to do" instead of succeed in doing; you must use the preposition "in" followed by the gerund form "finishing."