different between succeed vs improve

English

Alternative forms

• succede (dated)

Etymology

From Old French succeder, from Latin succedere (“to go under, go from under, come under, approach, follow, take the place of, receive by succession, prosper, be successful”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s?k?si?d/
• Rhymes: -i?d
• Hyphenation: suc?ceed

Verb

succeed (third-person singular simple present succeeds, present participle succeeding, simple past and past participle succeeded)

1. (transitive) To follow something in sequence or time.

2. (transitive) To replace or supplant someone in order vis-à-vis an office, position, or title.

   Synonym: take the place of

3. (intransitive) To prevail in obtaining an intended objective or accomplishment; to prosper as a result or conclusion of a particular effort.

4. (intransitive) To come after or follow; to be subsequent or consequent.
   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 49

     Her arms were like legs of mutton, her breasts like giant cabbages; her face, broad and fleshy, gave you an impression of almost indecent nakedness, and vast chin succeeded to vast chin.

5. To support; to prosper; to promote.

   • Succeed my wish and second my design.

6. (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.
   1. To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant.

7. To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve.
8. To go under cover.
9. (obsolete, rare) To fall heir to; to inherit.

10. (obsolete, rare) To ensue with an intended consequence or effect.

Synonyms

• (follow in order): come after; see also Thesaurus:succeed
• (support; prosper; promote): do well, flourish; see also Thesaurus:prosper

Antonyms

• (follow in order): precede; see also Thesaurus:precede
• (obtain the object desired; accomplish what is attempted or intended): fail, fall on one's face
• (support; prosper; promote): fail

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

• succede

English

Alternative forms

• emprove (obsolete)

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?p?u?v/
• Rhymes: -u?v

Verb

improve (third-person singular simple present improves, present participle improving, simple past and past participle improved)

1. (transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
2. (intransitive) To become better.

   • “My Continental prominence is improving,” I commented dryly. ¶ Von Lindowe cut at a furze bush with his silver-mounted rattan. ¶ “Quite so,” he said as dryly, his hand at his mustache. “I may say if your intentions were known your life would not be worth a curse.”

3. (obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another cannot improve.

4. (obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
   • 1528, William Tyndale, The Obedience of a Christian Man

     When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.

5. (dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Reward of Honouring God (sermon)

     We shall especially honour God, by discharging faithfully those offices which God hath entrusted us with: by improving diligently those talents which God hath committed to us

   • a hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved

   • the court has also an opportunity, which it seldom fails to improve.

   • 1715, Isaac Watts, Against Idleness and Mischief

     How doth the little busy bee / Improve each shining hour.

   • March 7, 1778, George Washington, letter

     True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.

Synonyms

• (to make something better): ameliorate, better, batten, enhance; See also Thesaurus:improve

Antonyms

• (to make something worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:aggravate
• (to become worse): deteriorate, worsen; See also Thesaurus:worsen

Derived terms

• improvement
• improver
• improving

Translations

Further reading

• "improve" in Raymond Williams, Keywords (revised), 1983, Fontana Press, page 160.