What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Succeed vs Strive - What's the difference?

succeed | strive |

As verbs the difference between succeed and strive

is that succeed is to follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of while strive is to try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.

As a noun strive is

an effort; a striving.

succeed

English

Alternative forms

* succede (dated)

Verb

(en verb)
  • To follow in order; to come next after; hence, to take the place of.
  • The king's eldest son succeeds his father on the throne.
    Autumn succeeds summer.
  • To obtain the object desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue or termination; to be successful.
  • (obsolete, rare) To fall heir to; to inherit.
  • So, if the issue of the elder son succeed before the younger, I am king.
  • To come after; to be subsequent or consequent to; to follow; to pursue.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
  • Destructive effects succeeded the curse.
  • * 1919 ,
  • 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.
  • To support; to prosper; to promote.
  • * Dryden
  • Succeed my wish and second my design.
  • 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.
  • # To ascend the throne after the removal the death of the occupant.
  • To descend, as an estate or an heirloom, in the same family; to devolve.
  • To go under cover.
  • Antonyms

    * (follow in order) precede * fail, fall on one's face

    Derived terms

    * nothing succeeds like success * succedent * succeedingly

    strive

    English

    Verb

  • To try to achieve a result; to make strenuous effort; to try earnestly and persistently.
  • He strove to excel.
  • To struggle in opposition; to be in contention or dispute; to contend; to contest.
  • to strive against fate
    to strive for the truth
  • * Denham
  • Now private pity strove with public hate, / Reason with rage, and eloquence with fate.
  • To vie; to compete as a rival.
  • * Milton
  • [Not] that sweet grove / Of Daphne, by Orontes and the inspired / Castalian spring, might with this paradise / Of Eden strive .

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See * The strong or irregular forms "strove" and "striven" are more commonly used in print than "strived".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An effort; a striving.
  • (Chapman)
  • (obsolete) strife; contention