triumph

[trahy-uhmf, -uhmf]

noun

1. the act, fact, or condition of being victorious or triumphant; victory; conquest.

   Synonyms: success
   Antonyms: loss, defeat

2. a significant success or noteworthy achievement; instance or occasion of victory.

3. exultation resulting from victory; joy over success.

   Synonyms: celebration, jubilation

4. Roman History.,  the ceremonial entrance into Rome of a victorious commander with his army, spoils of war, and captives, authorized by the senate in honor of an important military or naval victory.

5. a public pageant, spectacle, or the like.

verb (used without object)

1. to gain a victory; be victorious; win.

   Synonyms: succeed

2. to gain mastery; prevail.

   to triumph over fear.

3. to be successful; achieve success.

4. to exult over victory; rejoice over success.

5. to be elated or glad; rejoice proudly; glory.

6. to celebrate a triumph, as a victorious Roman commander.

verb (used with object)

1. to conquer; triumph over.

triumph

/ ˈtraɪəmf /

noun

1. the feeling of exultation and happiness derived from a victory or major achievement

2. the act or condition of being victorious; victory

3. (in ancient Rome) a ritual procession to the Capitoline Hill held in honour of a victorious general

4. obsolete,  a public display or celebration

5. cards an obsolete word for trump 1

verb

1. (often foll by over) to win a victory or control

   to triumph over one's weaknesses

2. to rejoice over a victory

3. to celebrate a Roman triumph

Other Word Forms

• triumpher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of triumph¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English triumphe (noun), Old English triumpha, from Latin triump(h)us, perhaps from Etruscan, from Greek thríambos “hymn to Dionysus”

Word History and Origins

Origin of triumph¹

C14: from Old French triumphe , from Latin triumphus , from Old Latin triumpus ; probably related to Greek thriambos Bacchic hymn

Synonym Study

See victory.

Example Sentences

Over the past five days a feeling they will win from any position has only strengthened - this triumph following victory over Pakistan by 107 runs despite being 76-7 at one stage.

Read more on BBC

The SNP gained more than half of MSPs in 2011, an electoral triumph that paved the way for a vote on the country's future.

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Wilson, who scored the winning basket with 0.3 of a second remaining for a 90-88 Aces triumph in game three, dominated early in game four.

Read more on Barron's

More than a century after its opening, the canal remains an unparalleled triumph of infrastructure and a cornerstone of our globalized economy, in which 80% of trade moves by sea.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The grueling attrition produced surprises, however, like Magdeleine Vallieries, a Canadian professional who paid for her own plane ticket to Rwanda, and triumphed in the women’s elite race by charging away from the tired favorites.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conquer 
• dominate 
• flourish 
• overcome 
• overwhelm 
• prevail 
• prosper 
• sweep 
• thrive 
• trounce 
• win 

When To Use

What does triumph mean?

To triumph is to win, succeed, or be victorious in an epic or spectacular way.Sometimes, it means to conquer. In this case, it’s often used with the word over. An army can triumph over enemy forces. In stories, good triumphs over evil. A person might be said to triumph over cancer. Triumph is especially used in situations in which victory or success has come after great difficulty, adversity, or sacrifice, or over an opponent considered difficult to defeat.Triumph is also commonly used as a noun meaning an especially significant or noteworthy victory or success, as in Their championship was a triumph—a win that places them among the all-time greats. A person’s moment of triumph is the moment when they finally achieve victory or success.Triumph can refer to the state of winning or being victorious, as in They returned to their hometown in triumph, entering to the cheers of the adoring crowd. Sometimes, triumph refers to the state of joy or celebration following a victory or success that is considered a triumph, as in A feeling of triumph filled her as she realized she had won the election. Triumph can also be used to refer to something that is a great achievement, as in Her latest novel is her greatest triumph—a masterpiece in every way. The adjective triumphant means experiencing, celebrating, or having achieved a triumph. The adjective triumphal means involving, relating to, or celebrating a triumph.Example: We will not rest until we reach our moment of triumph—when we finally triumph over the forces of evil.