won

¹ American  

[wuhn] / wʌn /

verb

1. simple past tense and past participle of win.

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won ² American  

[wuhn, woon, wohn] / wʌn, wʊn, woʊn /

verb (used without object)

Archaic.

wonned, wonning

1. to dwell; abide; stay.

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won ³ American  

[won] / wɒn /

noun

plural

won

1. a paper money and monetary unit of North and South Korea, equal to 100 chon.

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won ¹ British  

/ wɒn /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of North Korea, divided into 100 chon

2. the standard monetary unit of South Korea, divided into 100 chon

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won ² British  

/ wʌn /

verb

1. the past tense of win 1

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won ³ British  

/ wʊn, wəʊn, wʌn /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to live or dwell

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Etymology

Origin of won²

before 900; Middle English wonen, Old English wunian; cognate with German wohnen; wont

Origin of won³

First recorded in 1915–20; from Korean wǒn, Korean pronunciation of the Japanese character pronounced as en, yen “coin, round coin, yen,” from Middle Chinese wian “round, circular,” equivalent to Chinese yuán yuan

Example Sentences

They stared down presumably rougher Texas in the national semifinals and painted the floor in streaks of Longhorn and won the second-most important game of their lives.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Newcastle had won just one game all season.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

He dropped out early and John McCain won the GOP presidential nomination, before losing to Barack Obama that November.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Baffert, who had won the Oaks the last three years, saw his best hope vanish barely 100 yards into the race when jockey Mike Smith pulled up Forced Entry, the 5-2 second choice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

I cheered as Kekeli’s side won, trying to rein in my delight as I watched her jubilate.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo