win
WIHN
Win (verb) means to come out on top in a contest, game, war, or competition. Example: “Our team won the match 3–1.”
verb
1
To come out on top in a contest, game, war, or competition.
"Our team won the match 3–1."
"She won the chess tournament for the third year running."
"Our neighbours hope to win the village quiz again this spring."
2
To obtain something desirable through effort, skill, or luck.
"He won a scholarship to study abroad."
"They won first prize in the raffle."
"He hopes to win a place at a good university through hard work."
3
To gain someone's trust, affection, or support, often "win over".
"Her honesty won the jury over."
"A friendly smile and a small treat helped win over the shy puppy."
noun
1
A single victory or successful result.
"That was a hard-fought win for the underdogs."
"The company needed a quick win to boost morale."
"The home crowd cheered loudly after the team's first win of the season."
How to use win
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo succeed in a contest or gain something through effort, or the success itself as a noun.
Common mistake
Past tense is "won", not "winned".
Easily confused with
Common pairings
win a game
win over
a big win
win someone's trust
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Word forms
- Plural
- wins
- Third person singular
- wins
- Past tense
- won, wan
- Archaic forms
- winnest, wonnest, winneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our neighbours hope to _____ the village quiz again this spring.
Etymology
From Old English winnan, "to labour, strive, fight" — the sense narrowed over time from general struggle to specifically coming out victorious.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for win
See all rhymes for win →Frequently asked questions
What does “win” mean?
The word “win” means to come out on top in a contest, game, war, or competition. In plain terms, to succeed in a contest or gain something through effort, or the success itself as a noun.
How do you pronounce “win”?
“Win” is pronounced WIHN (/ˈwɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “win” in a sentence?
Here is “win” used in a sentence: “That was a hard-fought win for the underdogs.”
What is another word for “win”?
Words with a similar meaning to “win” include achieve, bring home the bacon, deserve, earn, hit the jackpot and indebt.
What is the opposite of “win”?
The opposite of “win” — its antonyms — are lose and fail.
What part of speech is “win”?
Depending on how it is used, “win” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “win” come from?
The word “win” comes from Old English. From Old English winnan, "to labour, strive, fight" — the sense narrowed over time from general struggle to specifically coming out victorious.
Is “win” a common word?
“Win” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the opposite of win?
The direct opposite of "win" is "lose," to fail to come out on top in a contest or game. Related opposites include "be defeated" and, in some situations, "draw" or "tie," where neither side wins. Which opposite fits depends on the situation: losing means finishing behind, drawing means finishing level.
What is the difference between win and beat?
You "win" a contest but you "beat" an opponent. "Win" focuses on claiming the victory or prize, as in "we won the match." "Beat" focuses on overcoming the other side, as in "we beat the other team." They describe the same result from different angles, so the object of each verb is what changes.
What is an example of win?
A runner crossing the finish line first wins the race; a team scoring the most points wins the game. Beyond sport, a company can win a contract, a lawyer can win a case, and a candidate can win an election. In each, someone comes out on top of a contest or competition.
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