winning

[ win-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that wins.

   Antonyms: losing

2. Usually winnings. something that is won, especially money.
3. Mining.
   1. any opening by which coal is being or has been extracted.
   2. a bed of coal ready for mining.

adjective

1. that wins; successful or victorious, as in a contest:

   the winning team.

   Antonyms: losing

2. charming; engaging; pleasing:

   a winning child; a winning smile.

   Synonyms: winsome, attractive

   Antonyms: repulsive

winning

/ ˈwɪnɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a person, character, etc) charming, engaging, or attractive

   a winning smile

   winning ways

2. gaining victory

   the winning stroke

noun

1. 1. a shaft or seam of coal
   2. the extraction of coal or ore from the ground
2. plural money, prizes, or valuables won, esp in gambling

Derived Forms

• ˈwinningly, adverb
• ˈwinningness, noun

Other Words From

• winning·ly adverb
• winning·ness noun
• un·winning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of winning¹

1250–1300; Middle English (noun); win ¹, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

That's due to a winning script by co-creators Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson and the skillful direction of Dean Parisot of Galaxy Quest fame.

From Ars Technica

Even before the earnings call, Salesforce has been on a winning streak.

From Fortune

The Democrat known for presiding over the creation of the Federal Reserve and the winning of WWI was also the first to attempt to disenfranchise voters via the mail, though he never sought to wield it as a tool for reelection.

From Ozy

One fantasy-baseball study showed that more than 90 percent of the winnings went to just over 1 percent of the players.

From Freakonomics

San Diego’s consultant and Council members said they’re determined to make shareholders, not the public, pay for whatever the city gets from the winning bidder.

From Voice of San Diego

By 2012, Democratic President Barack Obama owned the Asian-American vote, winning it by 47 percentage points.

From The Daily Beast

But after winning 55 percent of the white vote, Duke had a database of supporters some politicians coveted.

From The Daily Beast

But Winning Marriage will be essential for the historian who, someday, tries to tell the full story.

From The Daily Beast

The Oscar-winning actress put nude photo thieves in their place with one perfect statement.

From The Daily Beast

With a .700 career winning percentage as a coach in college and the NFL, Harbaugh is a winner.

From The Daily Beast

He put out his hand in the most cordial and friendly way, and greeted me with the most winning smile in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

On several occasions I have been engaged in proceedings before them, and not always on the winning side.

From Project Gutenberg

He laughed at her, and told her that he had abandoned the modern method of winning a mate, and gone back to the primitive mode.

From Project Gutenberg

But you have given me such a fine idea for winning the prize Momsy and the other ladies are offering.

From Project Gutenberg

On returning to Paris his time was fully occupied in winning over the artillery to Bonaparte.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• leading
• successful
• victorious