/səˈksidz/
succeeds is pronounced /səˈksidz/. Succeeds means to achieves a desired aim or outcome or to come before others in a sequence or ranking. In usage, it often describes reaching goals, performing well, or surpassing obstacles. The form shown here is the third-person singular present tense of the verb “succeed.”.
Say it backSucceeds means to achieves a desired aim or outcome or to come before others in a sequence or ranking. In usage, it often describes reaching goals, performing well, or surpassing obstacles. The form shown here is the third-person singular present tense of the verb “succeed.”
"The company succeeds in expanding into new markets."
"She consistently succeeds at turning ideas into tangible results."
"If you work hard, you’re more likely to succeed."
Pronounce it as sək-SEE-dz with primary stress on the second syllable: /səkˈsiːdz/. The initial schwa is weak, the main vowel is a long /iː/ in the second syllable, and the final /dz/ is a voiced alveolar affricate. Keep the tongue relaxed for the first syllable, then lift toward the high front position for the /siː/; end with a crisp /dz/ release. Audio reference: practice saying it in natural sentence flow: “She succeeds in every project.”
Common errors include pronouncing the word as /səkˈsiːs/ (ending with /s/ instead of /dz/) and misplacing the stress as /ˈsʌksiːdz/ or slightly altering the /siː/ to a shorter /iː/. To correct: ensure the final is /dz/ (voiced) and practice the tongue tip contacting the alveolar ridge for the /dz/ release; keep the /siː/ lengthened and steady before the final /dz/; maintain the secondary schwa in the first syllable.
In US/UK/AU, the middle /siː/ remains long and the final /dz/ is voiced in all three, but vowel quality in the /iː/ can be slightly tenser in American speech, with a more rhotic trailing sound in American English affecting flow in connected speech. Australians may have a slightly faster transition into the final /dz/ and a more centralized quality of the initial schwa. Overall, the rhythm centers on /səkˈsiːdz/ with similar primary stress on the second syllable.
The challenge lies in blending a weak initial syllable with a long tense vowel in the stressed syllable and a voiced alveolar affricate at the end. You need precise tongue tip contact for /dz/ and a short, controlled /k/ release into /siː/. Learners often misplace emphasis, produce an unvoiced /z/ at the end, or shorten the /iː/. Focus on timing: weak-strong-voiced sequence and smooth transition from /s/ to /k/ to /siː/ to /dz/ in flow.
A unique point is the final /dz/ consonant cluster following the long /iː/ vowel, which can be subtly influenced by the preceding /s/ and /k/. Make sure to voice the final /dz/ clearly rather than turning it into a simple /z/ or /s/; this is often where non-native speakers falter. Also, ensure the primary stress sits on the second syllable and the first syllable remains a reduced schwa.
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The verb succeed traces to the Latin succēdĕre, formed from sub- ‘under, up to’ + cēdere ‘to go, yield’. In Latin, succēdĕre carried the sense of going up to, aiding, or following after in progress, which later extended to means of attaining desired ends. Through Old French succéder, the term entered Middle English with meanings related to following after, thus achieving or attaining a goal, or excelling. By Early Modern English, succeed functioned both in sense of following in sequence (e.g., “he succeeds to the throne”) and achieving outcomes (e.g., “to succeed in business”). The modern form retained both the success-oriented sense and the succession sense, commonly used with person, effort, or venture. First known uses appear in legal and literary texts of the 14th–15th centuries, with the phrase “succeed to” evolving into a phrasal pattern indicating inheritance or succession, while standalone succeed gained traction in representing successful outcomes across contexts like fortune, status, or function. As a canonical verb, it adapted to modern English’s overt tense and aspect system, preserving its broad applicative reach from daily talk to formal discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "succeeds" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "succeeds"
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