adj
Very common
winning
WIH-nihng
Winning (adj) means resulting in victory; that wins. Example: “The winning team lifted the trophy above their heads.”
adj
1
Resulting in victory; that wins.
"The winning team lifted the trophy above their heads."
"Her winning goal came in the last minute of the match."
"They bought the winning ticket in last week's lottery."
2
Charming or appealing in a way that wins people over.
"The shy boy had a winning way with the youngest children."
"Her winning personality made her popular with every customer."
"He flashed a winning smile at the interview panel."
noun
1
The act of achieving victory or success in a contest.
"Winning the school race made him feel proud and a little tired."
"The coach said that winning is not everything, but it feels good."
"For her, winning matters more than how the game is played."
2
Money or prizes gained through success, especially gambling — usually plural as "winnings."
"She spent her winnings from the quiz on a weekend away."
"After counting his winnings, he treated everyone to dinner."
"He put his winnings straight into a savings account."
How to use winning
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- winnings
- Comparative
- more winning, winninger
- Superlative
- most winning, winningest
Fill the gap
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The _____ team lifted the trophy above their heads.
Etymology
A Scottish altered form of Finan.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for winning
See all rhymes for 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.
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