Precede vs. Succeed — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 25, 2023
"Precede" means to come before something in time, order, or position, while "Succeed" means to follow after or come next to something.
Difference Between Precede and Succeed
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Precede" and "Succeed" are two terms that often describe the order of events, situations, or positions in a sequence. "Precede" refers to something that happens or is positioned before another event or item. For example, in a book, chapter one will precede chapter two. On the other hand, "Succeed" relates to what comes after. In the same book scenario, chapter three would succeed chapter two.
When considering chronological events, if an event A happens before event B, then we can say event A precedes event B. Conversely, if event A happens after event B, then event A succeeds event B. This distinction is pivotal in narratives, timelines, and historical recounts, allowing for a clear understanding of sequences.
In a hierarchical structure or ranking, the term "precede" can be used to denote someone or something that holds a position before another, while "succeed" can imply the opposite, i.e., holding a position after another. For instance, in a corporate hierarchy, a manager might precede an executive director in authority. Conversely, an assistant manager would succeed the manager in the same hierarchy.
To put it in a simplistic manner, "precede" and "succeed" are antonyms when it comes to describing the order or sequence of events, positions, or time. While "precede" implies being before or ahead of something, "succeed" denotes following or coming after something.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Comes before
Comes after
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Sequence in Time
Earlier in time
Later in time
Position in a Hierarchy
Holds a higher position
Holds a lower position
Usage in Literature
Introduction might precede the main content
Conclusion might succeed the main content
Order in Numbers
Lesser numbers precede greater ones
Greater numbers succeed lesser ones
Compare with Definitions
Precede
To cause to be or come earlier
The thunder precedes the rain.
Succeed
To achieve a desired result
She worked hard and succeeded.
Precede
To surpass in rank or importance
A general precedes a lieutenant.
Succeed
To obtain the desired result or outcome
His efforts to negotiate succeeded.
Precede
To go in advance of
A marching band preceded the float.
Succeed
To inherit assets or rights
He succeeded to the family estate.
Precede
To be ahead of in order or position
The appetizer precedes the main course.
Succeed
To accomplish something desired or intended
"Success is counted sweetest / By those who ne'er succeed" (Emily Dickinson).
Precede
To come, exist, or occur before in time
A lecture preceded the movie.
Succeed
To come next after something in sequence
Spring succeeds winter.
Precede
To be in front of or prior to in order
A precedes B in the alphabet.
Succeed
To come next in time or order
She fell sick, and what succeeded was an outpouring of concern from her fans.
Precede
To preface; introduce
Preceded her lecture with a funny anecdote.
Succeed
To replace another in office or position
The prince succeeded to the throne.
Precede
To be before in time, order, or position.
Succeed
(Obsolete) To pass to a person by way of inheritance.
Precede
(transitive) To go before, go in front of.
Cultural genocide precedes physical genocide.
Succeed
To come after (something) in time or order; follow
Winter succeeds autumn.
Precede
(transitive) To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce.
Succeed
To come after and take the place of
The heir succeeded the king.
Precede
(transitive) To have higher rank than (someone or something else).
Succeed
(transitive) To follow something in sequence or time.
Autumn succeeds summer.
Precede
Brief editorial preface (usually to an article or essay)
Succeed
(transitive) To replace or supplant someone in order vis-à-vis an office, position, or title.
The king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne.
After a contentious election, Jones succeeded Smith as president of the republic.
Take the place of
Precede
To go before in order of time; to occur first with relation to anything.
Succeed
(intransitive) To come after or follow; to be subsequent or consequent; often with to.
Precede
To go before in place, rank, or importance.
Succeed
(intransitive) To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; often with to.
Following the death of his mother, he succeeded to the throne.
So, if the issue of the elder son succeed before the younger, the crown (or: property) falls to me.
Precede
To cause to be preceded; to preface; to introduce; - used with by or with before the instrumental object.
It is usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration.
Succeed
(intransitive) To ascend the throne after the removal or death of the occupant.
Princess Buttercup succeeded to the throne as queen after King Willoughby died.
Precede
Be earlier in time; go back further;
Stone tools precede bronze tools
Succeed
(intransitive) To prevail in obtaining an intended objective or accomplishment; to prosper as a result or conclusion of a particular effort.
The persecution of any righteous practice has never succeeded in the face of history; in fact, it can expedite the collapse of the persecutory regime.
She succeeded in her efforts to repair the tank.
Precede
Come before;
Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify
Succeed
(intransitive) To prosper or attain success and beneficial results in general.
Voted most likely to succeed
Precede
Be the predecessor of;
Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands
Succeed
To turn out, fare, do (well or ill).
Precede
Move ahead (of others) in time or space
Succeed
(transitive) To support; to prosper; to promote or give success to.
Precede
Furnish with a preface or introduction;
She always precedes her lectures with a joke
He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution
Succeed
(intransitive) To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve; often with to.
Precede
To come before in time
Dinosaurs preceded humans on Earth.
Succeed
To fall heir to; to inherit.
Precede
To exist or occur prior to
Ancient civilizations preceded modern ones.
Succeed
To go down or near with to.
Succeed
To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of; as, the king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne; autumn succeeds summer.
As he saw him nigh succeed.
Succeed
To fall heir to; to inherit.
Succeed
To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue.
Destructive effects . . . succeeded the curse.
Succeed
To support; to prosper; to promote.
Succeed my wish and second my design.
Succeed
To come in the place of another person, thing, or event; to come next in the usual, natural, or prescribed course of things; to follow; hence, to come next in the possession of anything; - often with to.
If the father left only daughters, they equally succeeded to him in copartnership.
Enjoy till I returnShort pleasures; for long woes are to succeed!
Succeed
To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant.
No woman shall succeed in Salique land.
Succeed
To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve.
Succeed
To obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful; as, he succeeded in his plans; his plans succeeded.
It is almost impossible for poets to succeed without ambition.
Spenser endeavored it in Shepherd's Kalendar; but neither will it succeed in English.
Succeed
To go under cover.
Will you to the cooler cave succeed!
Succeed
Attain success or reach a desired goal;
The enterprise succeeded
We succeeded in getting tickets to the show
She struggled to overcome her handicap and won
Succeed
Be the successor (of);
Carter followed Ford
Will Charles succeed to the throne?
Succeed
To follow and replace another by descent, election, or appointment
The prince will succeed the king.
Common Curiosities
Can "succeed" refer to achieving success?
Yes, "succeed" can also mean to achieve a desired result or goal.
Is "precede" used in describing chronological events?
Yes, if event A happens before event B, event A precedes event B.
In a book, which chapter precedes chapter 3?
Chapter 2 precedes chapter 3.
Is it correct to say that evening succeeds afternoon?
Yes, because evening follows afternoon.
Do "precede" and "succeed" describe the same action?
No, "precede" means to come before, and "succeed" means to come after.
Which season succeeds summer?
Fall (or Autumn) succeeds summer.
Which comes first, the event that precedes or the one that succeeds?
The event that precedes comes first.
Can "precede" and "succeed" refer to positions in hierarchy?
Yes, "precede" denotes a higher position, while "succeed" denotes a lower one.
If someone is promoted to a higher rank, do they precede or succeed their previous rank?
They succeed their previous rank.
Which word describes something that comes earlier: "precede" or "succeed"?
"Precede" describes something that comes earlier.
Can "succeed" mean inheriting a position or title?
Yes, one can succeed to a title or position by inheritance or appointment.
In chronological order, which term refers to an earlier event, and which to a later event?
"Precede" refers to an earlier event, and "succeed" refers to a later event.
Can "precede" and "succeed" be used in terms of spatial order, like in a line?
Yes, if item A is before item B in line, A precedes B; if A is after B, A succeeds B.
Can the term "succeed" be used in business contexts?
Yes, "succeed" can mean achieving success in business endeavors.
If a manager is promoted to director, does the director position precede or succeed the manager position?
The director position precedes the manager position.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
