triumphant
Americanadjective
-
having achieved victory or success; victorious; successful.
-
exulting over victory; rejoicing over success; exultant.
-
Archaic. triumphal.
-
Obsolete. splendid; magnificent.
adjective
-
experiencing or displaying triumph
-
exultant through triumph
-
obsolete
-
magnificent
-
triumphal
-
Usage
What does triumphant mean? Triumphant means experiencing, celebrating, or having achieved a triumph—an especially significant or noteworthy victory or success.Triumph is also commonly used as a verb meaning 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, and triumphant is used in the same way. An army can be triumphant over enemy forces. In stories, good is triumphant over evil. A person might be said to be triumphant over cancer.Triumphant 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.Triumphant can describe a person who is or has been victorious, as in They returned to their hometown triumphant, entering to the cheers of the adoring crowd. Sometimes, triumphant describes the state of joy or celebration following a victory or success that is considered a triumph, as in A triumphant feeling filled her as she realized she had won the election. Triumphant can describe something considered a great achievement, as in Her latest novel is triumphant—a masterpiece in every way. The similar adjective triumphal means involving, relating to, or celebrating a triumph.Example: We will not rest until we are triumphant—when we finally victorious over the forces of evil.
Other Word Forms
- triumphantly adverb
- untriumphant adjective
Etymology
Origin of triumphant
First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin triumphant-, stem of triumphāns, present participle of triumphāre “to triumph”; triumph, -ant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Jordan won the Oscar, a triumphant culmination in his years-long creative partnership with “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler, who collaborated with the actor in “Black Panther,” “Creed” and “Fruitvale Station.”
From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026
The debut of “Sinners” was triumphant, unseating “A Minecraft Movie” and topping the Easter weekend box office with $46.6 million domestically and $60 million globally while scoring rave reviews and an “A” ranking on Cinemascore.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
Her band grew to full size when three more musicians arrived, and a tentative start turned into a triumphant night, defined by composure rather than chaos.
From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026
As supreme leader he never sets foot outside the country, a precedent set by Khomeini following his triumphant return to Tehran from France in 1979.
From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026
The magistrate’s triumphant cry died in the air.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
