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Prepositions after verbs

How to use prepositions with succeed

Succeed is most commonly followed by in for achievements and by for methods. Other prepositions have more limited uses.

Quick answer

Common patterns with succeed

Use succeed in for achievements or activities. Use succeed by to explain the method. At and with are less common and depend on context. Succeed to is mainly formal and means inherit a position or title.

She succeeded in finding the answer.
They succeeded by working together.
He succeeded to the throne after his father died.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
succeed in + activity

Achieving something

In introduces the activity or goal achieved.

We succeeded in completing the project on time.
She succeeded in business at a young age.
2
succeed by + method

Showing how success happened

By introduces the method or action that led to success.

The team succeeded by adapting quickly.
He succeeded by careful planning.
3
succeed at + activity

Being good at an activity

At is sometimes used for skills or tasks, especially informal ones.

She succeeded at sales for many years.
He succeeded at keeping the group calm.
4
succeed with + object

Having success with something

With introduces the thing or person connected to the success.

The company succeeded with its new product.
She succeeded with younger audiences.
5
succeed to + position

Inheriting a title or position

This formal pattern means taking over a rank, title, or office.

He succeeded to the estate in 1998.
She succeeded to the presidency after the election.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
succeed in
She succeeded in passing the exam.
Standard for achieving a goal or completing an activity.
succeed by
They succeeded by staying flexible.
Explains the method of success.
succeed at
He succeeded at negotiation.
Used for skill-based activities or tasks.
succeed with
The campaign succeeded with young voters.
Shows the area or group connected to success.
succeed to
The prince succeeded to the throne.
Formal expression for inheriting a position or title.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using to for ordinary achievements

To is mainly for inheriting titles or positions.

✕ She succeeded to finish the report. ✓ She succeeded in finishing the report.

Confusing in and by

In introduces the goal; by introduces the method.

✕ They succeeded by the competition. ✓ They succeeded in the competition.

Using at for every situation

At works best with tasks or skills, not all success contexts.

✕ He succeeded at becoming CEO. ✓ He succeeded in becoming CEO.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She succeeded ___ getting the contract.
2. They succeeded ___ working long hours.
3. The king's son succeeded ___ the throne.

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Frequently asked questions

Is succeed in the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard way to describe achieving something.

Can I say succeed at?

Yes. It is used for tasks, skills, or activities, especially in informal contexts.

What does succeed to mean?

It means inherit a position, title, or property in formal English.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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