winning
8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for winning, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Resulting in victory; that wins.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
first-place
fetching
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Resulting in victory; that wins.
“The winning team lifted the trophy above their heads.”
2. adj
Charming or appealing in a way that wins people over.
“The shy boy had a winning way with the youngest children.”
Opposites
How to use winning
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
winning streak
winning smile
winning formula
winning ticket
Etymology
A Scottish altered form of Finan.
Full origin of winning →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.
