win

[ win ]

/ wɪn /

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See synonyms for: win / winning / won on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), won, win·ning.

to finish first in a race, contest, or the like.

to succeed by striving or effort: He applied for a scholarship and won.

to gain the victory; overcome an adversary: The home team won.

Slang. to be successful or competent and be acknowledged for it: My sister wins at getting the biggest bargains.Compare fail (def. 9).

verb (used with object), won, win·ning.

to succeed in reaching (a place, condition, etc.), especially by great effort: They won the shore through a violent storm.

to get by effort, as through labor, competition, or conquest: He won his post after years of striving.

to gain (a prize, fame, etc.).

to be successful in (a game, battle, etc.).

to make (one's way), as by effort or ability.

to attain or reach (a point, goal, etc.).

to gain (favor, love, consent, etc.), as by qualities or influence.

to gain the favor, regard, or adherence of.

to gain the consent or support of; persuade (often followed by over): The speech won them over to our side.

to persuade to marry; gain in marriage.

British Mining.

to obtain (ore, coal, etc.).
to prepare (a vein, bed, mine, etc.) for working, by means of shafts or the like.

noun

a victory, as in a game or horse race.

the position of the competitor who comes in first in a horse race, harness race, etc.Compare place (def. 27b), show (def. 27).

Slang.

a success, or something good: She was having a bad week, so she really needed a win.Compare fail (def. 14a).
the state or quality of being successful or good: There was so much win in last night’s episode!Compare fail (def. 14b).

adjective

Slang.

successful or competent.Compare fail (def. 19b).
very good or of high quality; awesome: To hear him play, now that was win!Compare fail (def. 19c).

interjection

Slang. (used to acknowledge success, competence, etc.): I just got tickets to the concert. Win!

Verb Phrases

win out, to win or succeed, especially over great odds; triumph: His finer nature finally won out.

OTHER WORDS FOR win

3 conquer, prevail, triumph; overcome.

6 obtain, secure, acquire, achieve, gain, procure; reach.

13 bring around, convince, induce, influence, sway.

See synonyms for win on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about win

for the win, Slang. (used to express enthusiasm for someone or something that is very good, likely to succeed, etc.): a plant-based diet, for the win!

Origin of win

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb winnen, win(ne) “to strive, exert effort,” Old English winnan “to labor, work, fight, bear”; cognate with German gewinnen, Old Norse vinna, Gothic winnan

synonym study for win

6. See gain¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM win

win·na·ble, adjective

Words nearby win

wimp, wimple, wimp out, wimpy, Wimshurst machine, win, win by a nose, wince, winced, wincey, winceyette

Other definitions for win (2 of 2)

win²

[ win ]

/ wɪn /

verb (used with object), winned, win·ning.Scot. and North England.

to dry (hay, wood, etc.) by exposure to air and sun.

Origin of win

First recorded in 1550–60; etymology uncertain; perhaps variant of winnow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use win in a sentence

Dragić and Herro kept them in it early, Jae Crowder just kept making threes, and then Jimmy Butler’s scoring and Bam’s block won it late.
Bam Adebayo Is Making Plays, Denver Is Making Us Look Bad, And The Lakers May Need To Make Some Adjustments|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
In other words, the Republican Party won on the atrocious Ballot Harvesting Scam.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
While Maddux won his fourth consecutive — and final — Cy Young Award in his age-29 season in 1995, Johnson won four straight Cy Young Awards from his age 35 to age 38 seasons.
Jacob DeGrom Just Keeps Throwing Faster|Travis Sawchik|September 17, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
In 2018, Maduro won a second term as president of Venezuela.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics

The survey shows Graham and Harrison each winning the backing of 48 percent of likely voters in the state.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
Except the Braves did not win 14 straight pennants (they did win 14 straight division titles), and Smoltz is a also Republican.
Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of Fame|Ben Jacobs|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.
Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
If history is a guide, Huckabee will need to resonate with more than just the faithful if he is to win.
Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen?|Lloyd Green|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Bessires was included because he would never win it at any later date, but his doglike devotion made him a priceless subordinate.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
The real experience has a magnetism of its own and will win above mere technicality whenever it has the opportunity.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Great preparations had been made, and the success must have been perfect to win so general and hearty a commendation.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
All the miserable stratagems they had been guilty of to win him; the dishonest plotting and planning.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
They take him along whenever they play games, thinking the mascot helps them to win.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for win (1 of 2)

win¹

/ (wɪn) /

verb wins, winning or won

(intr) to achieve first place in a competition

(tr) to gain or receive (a prize, first place, etc) in a competition

(tr) to succeed in or gain (something) with an effortwe won recognition

win one's spurs

to achieve recognition in some field of endeavour
history to be knighted

to gain victory or triumph in (a battle, argument, etc)

(tr) to earn or procure (a living, etc) by work

(tr) to take possession of, esp violently; capturethe Germans never won Leningrad

(when intr, foll by out, through, etc) to reach with difficulty (a desired condition or position) or become free, loose, etc, with effortthe boat won the shore; the boat won through to the shore

(tr) to turn someone into (a supporter, enemy, etc)you have just won an ally

(tr) to gain (the sympathy, loyalty, etc) of someone

(tr) to obtain (a woman, etc) in marriage

(tr)

to extract (ore, coal, etc) from a mine
to extract (metal or other minerals) from ore
to discover and make (a mineral deposit) accessible for mining

you can't win informal an expression of resignation after an unsuccessful attempt to overcome difficulties

noun

informal a success, victory, or triumph

profit; winnings

the act or fact of reaching the finishing line or post first

Derived forms of win

winnable, adjective

Word Origin for win

Old English winnan; related to Old Norse vinna, German gewinnen

British Dictionary definitions for win (2 of 2)

win²

/ (wɪn) /

verb wins, winning, won or winned (tr) Irish, Scot and Northern English dialect

to dry (grain, hay, peat, etc) by exposure to sun and air

a less common word for winnow

Word Origin for win

Old English, perhaps a variant of winnow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with win

win

In addition to the idioms beginning with win

win by a nose
wind down
wind up
wine and dine
wing it
win hands down
winning streak
win one's spurs
win on points
win out
win over
win some, lose some
win through

also see:

(win) hands down
no-win situation
slow but sure (steady wins the race)
you can't win
you can't win 'em all

win

OTHER WORDS FOR win

Idioms about win

Origin of win

synonym study for win

OTHER WORDS FROM win

Words nearby win

Other definitions for win (2 of 2)

Origin of win

Words related to win

How to use win in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for win (1 of 2)

Derived forms of win

Word Origin for win

British Dictionary definitions for win (2 of 2)

Word Origin for win

Other Idioms and Phrases with win