adj Very common

winning

WIH-nihng

Winning (adj) means resulting in victory; that wins. Example: “They bought the winning ticket in last week's lottery.”

adj

Resulting in victory; that wins.

"They bought the winning ticket in last week's lottery."

Charming or appealing in a way that wins people over.

"He flashed a winning smile at the interview panel."

noun

The act of achieving victory or success in a contest.

"For her, winning matters more than how the game is played."

Money or prizes gained through success, especially gambling — usually plural as "winnings."

"He put his winnings straight into a savings account."

How to Use Winning

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishComing out on top — or, for a smile or personality, charming enough to win people over.

Common pairings

winning streak winning smile winning formula winning ticket

Word Forms

more winning comparative, winninger comparative, winnings plural, Winnings plural, most winning superlative, winningest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They bought the _____ ticket in last week's lottery.

Synonyms

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victorious triumphant successful conquering champion first-place

Related Words

happy successful effective sad winner hero champion advocate

Rhymes for winning

inning sinning pinning spinning grinning thinning skinning beginning

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “winning” mean?

The word “winning” means resulting in victory; that wins. In plain terms, coming out on top — or, for a smile or personality, charming enough to win people over.

How do you pronounce “winning”?

“Winning” is pronounced WIH-nihng (/ˈwɪnɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “winning” in a sentence?

Here is “winning” used in a sentence: “They bought the winning ticket in last week's lottery.”

What part of speech is “winning”?

Depending on how it is used, “winning” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “winning” a common word?

“Winning” is a very common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “winning” have?

“Winning” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: resulting in victory; that wins.

What is the difference between 'winning' and 'victorious'?

'Winning' describes the thing that brings about a win — the winning goal, the winning ticket, the winning bid. 'Victorious' describes the person or side that has already won — the victorious team, a victorious general. In short, what wins is winning; who has won is victorious.

What does a 'winning smile' mean?

Here 'winning' carries its second sense — charming, attractive and likely to gain approval. A winning smile, a winning personality or winning manners are ones that draw people in and win them over, nothing to do with contests. Context makes clear whether victory or charm is meant.

What is the opposite of winning?

In the victory sense, the opposite is 'losing' — the losing team, a losing streak. Related antonyms include 'defeated' and 'unsuccessful.' In the 'charming' sense, opposites would be 'off-putting,' 'unappealing' or 'disagreeable.' As always, the right antonym depends on which meaning of 'winning' you have in mind.

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