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

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

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

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. 2022

How to use win in a sentence

The correct English preterite, won, is still in use, but against it are arrayed wan and winned.
The American Language|Henry L. Mencken

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

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