won
1 Americanverb
verb (used without object)
noun
-
won
plural
noun
-
the standard monetary unit of North Korea, divided into 100 chon
-
the standard monetary unit of South Korea, divided into 100 chon
verb
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of won2
before 900; Middle English wonen, Old English wunian; cognate with German wohnen; see 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
Vocabulary lists containing won
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice, Unit 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
See Examples For:
But this fight won’t be won on defense, continuing to play whack-a-mole with Houthi projectiles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Richardson switched allegiance from Australia to Britain after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he won two silver medals and a bronze.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
They have won four games, three of them by one run.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Meanwhile, the Parti Québécois won enough seats in last week’s provincial election to form a separatist minority government.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
"In the old days," Don Quixote had said, "knights won islands and kingdoms. They gave them to their squires to govern. I plan to do the same with you, Sancho, if you become my squire."
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
The castle would have been right fair and rich had any folk wonned therein, but none there were save one old priest and his clerk that lived within by their own toil.
From The High History of the Holy Graal by Sebastian Evans
Offering there hath he made Saint James, candles him paid, Gold on the shrine hath laid; Now Gobertz Is for Toulouse, where that maid Tibors wonned unafraid Of Love and his accolade That breaketh hearts.
From Helen Redeemed and Other Poems by Maurice Henry Hewlett
But small pleasaunce took Little John In all he heard and saw; Till he reached the cave of a hermit old Who wonned within the shaw.
From The Bon Gaultier Ballads by Richard Doyle
There by him now stood the beakers and bowls, 172 There lay the dishes and dearly-wrought swords, Rusty, through-eaten they, as in earth's bosom A thousand of winters there they had wonned.
From The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats by Anonymous
But while in early morn she wonned alone And Paris slept, shrill rose her singing tone, And brave the light on kindled cheeks and eyes: Brave as her hope is, brave the flag she flies.
From Helen Redeemed and Other Poems by Maurice Henry Hewlett
Temple devout! where God chose his wonning,* *abode From which, these misbeliev'd deprived be, To you my soule penitent I bring; Receive me, for I can no farther flee.
From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by D. Laing Purves
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.
