win

[ win ]

/ wɪn /

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.

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Idioms for 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

before 900; Middle English winnen (v.), Old English winnan to work, fight, bear; cognate with German gewinnen, Old Norse vinna, Gothic winnan

SYNONYMS FOR win

6 obtain, secure, acquire, achieve, reach, procure. See gain¹.

13 convince.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR win ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM win

win·na·ble, adjective

Words nearby win

wimp, wimp out, wimple, wimpy, wimshurst machine, win, win by a nose, win hands down, win on points, win one's spurs, win out

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for win out (1 of 3)

win out

verb

(intr, adverb) informal to succeed or prevail as if in a contestsanity rarely wins out over prejudice

British Dictionary definitions for win out (2 of 3)

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 out (3 of 3)

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

Idioms and Phrases with win out (1 of 2)

win out

Succeed, prevail, as in She was sure she'd win out if she persisted. [Late 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with win out (2 of 2)

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

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win