succeed



If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Prov. You have to keep trying until you get what you want. Jill: I spent all morning trying to fix the computer, and it still won't work. Jane: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. You'll learn that dance step eventually. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
See also: again, first, if, try

Nothing succeeds like success.

Prov. If you have succeeded in the past, you will continue to be successful in the future. After Alan's brilliant courtroom victory, everyone wanted to be his client. Nothing succeeds like success.

succeed as something

to flourish or prosper as a type of person. I hope I succeed as a bank teller. Jamie succeeded as an investigator.
See also: succeed

succeed at something

to prosper or flourish in some task. I hope I can succeed at the task you have assigned me. I am sure you will succeed at it.
See also: succeed

succeed in something

to prosper or flourish in some position or office. I hope you succeed in your new job. We knew you would succeed in doing what you wanted to do.
See also: succeed

succeed someone as something

to take the place of someone as something; to supplant someone in something. Jeff will succeed Claude as president of the organization. You are not allowed to succeed yourself as president.
See also: succeed

succeed to something

to fall heir to something; to take something over. Carl will succeed to the throne when he is of age. Mary succeeded to the throne at the age of three months.
See also: succeed

If at first you don't succeed, (try, try, and try again).

something that you say in order to tell someone they must keep trying in order to achieve something My novel has been rejected by three publishers already. Still, if at first you don't succeed ...
See also: first, if, succeed

if at first you don't succeed, try, try again

Don't let a first-time failure stop further attempts. For example, I know it's hard at first to shift gears without stalling but if at first you don't succeed . . . This seemingly ancient adage was first recorded only in 1840 but has become so well known that it is often shortened.
See also: again, first, if, try

succeed in

v.
To accomplish something desired or intended: I'm sure you will succeed in your new project. They succeeded in convincing the jury of their innocence.
See also: succeed

succeed to

v.
To replace another in some office or position: The princess succeeded to the throne after her father's death and became queen.
See also: succeed

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
DonndubhÁN-Ancient Irish
LucasLOO-kəs (English), LUY-kahs (Dutch), luy-KAH (French), LOO-kəsh (Portuguese), LOO-kahs (Spanish)English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Biblical Latin
Amna-Arabic
Rajinder-Indian (Sikh)
PrzemysŁ-Polish (Rare)
Yamatoyah-mah-toJapanese