win

[ win ]

/ wɪn /

verb (used without object), won, win·ning.

to finish first in a race, contest, or the like.

to succeed by striving or effort: He applied for a scholarship and won.

to gain the victory; overcome an adversary: The home team won.

Slang. to be successful or competent and be acknowledged for it: My sister wins at getting the biggest bargains. Compare fail(def 9).

verb (used with object), won, win·ning.

to succeed in reaching (a place, condition, etc.), especially by great effort: They won the shore through a violent storm.

to get by effort, as through labor, competition, or conquest: He won his post after years of striving.

to gain (a prize, fame, etc.).

to be successful in (a game, battle, etc.).

to make (one's way), as by effort or ability.

to attain or reach (a point, goal, etc.).

to gain (favor, love, consent, etc.), as by qualities or influence.

to gain the favor, regard, or adherence of.

to gain the consent or support of; persuade (often followed by over): The speech won them over to our side.

to persuade to marry; gain in marriage.

British Mining.

to obtain (ore, coal, etc.).
to prepare (a vein, bed, mine, etc.) for working, by means of shafts or the like.

noun

a victory, as in a game or horse race.

the position of the competitor who comes in first in a horse race, harness race, etc. Compare place(def 27b), show(def 27).

Slang.

a success, or something good: She was having a bad week, so she really needed a win.Compare fail(def 14a).
the state or quality of being successful or good: There was so much win in last night’s episode!Compare fail(def 14b).

adjective

Slang.

successful or competent.Compare fail(def 19b).
very good or of high quality; awesome: To hear him play, now that was win!Compare fail(def 19c).

interjection

Slang. (used to acknowledge success, competence, etc.): I just got tickets to the concert. Win!

Verb Phrases

win out, to win or succeed, especially over great odds; triumph: His finer nature finally won out.

Idioms for win

for the win, Slang. (used to express enthusiasm for someone or something that is very good, likely to succeed, etc.): a plant-based diet, for the win!

Origin of win

before 900; Middle English winnen (v.), Old English winnan to work, fight, bear; cognate with German gewinnen, Old Norse vinna, Gothic winnan

SYNONYMS FOR win

6 obtain, secure, acquire, achieve, reach, procure. See gain¹.

13 convince.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR win ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM win

win·na·ble, adjective

Words nearby win

wimp, wimp out, wimple, wimpy, wimshurst machine, win, win by a nose, win hands down, win on points, win one's spurs, win out

Definition for win (2 of 2)

win ²

[ win ]

/ wɪn /

verb (used with object), winned, win·ning. Scot. and North England.

to dry (hay, wood, etc.) by exposure to air and sun.

Origin of win

First recorded in 1550–60; perhaps variant of winnow

Example sentences from the Web for win

Except the Braves did not win 14 straight pennants (they did win 14 straight division titles), and Smoltz is a also Republican.

Conservative Curt Says His Politics, Not His Pitching, Kept Him Out of the Hall of Fame |Ben Jacobs |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.

Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America? |Emily Shire |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.

Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug? |Matt Lewis |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
If history is a guide, Huckabee will need to resonate with more than just the faithful if he is to win.

Can Huckabee Convert the GOP’s Moneymen? |Lloyd Green |January 4, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

She fails to appreciate the congressional and constitutional obstacles Johnson had to overcome to win passage of the bill.

Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’ |Gary May |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
It will win artists to a phase of the sublime in America which they have overlooked.

The Book of the National Parks |Robert Sterling Yard
I do not see how the Count D'Orsay can fail to win your heart.

Adle Dubois |Mrs. William T. Savage
This was encouraging and I endeavored to win the fair Maxine along those lines.

Nat Goodwin's Book |Nat C. Goodwin
He knew the power of constant attention, and the display of ardent passion, to win the female heart.

Tales And Novels, Volume 7 (of 10) |Maria Edgeworth
Keep up your courage, Bert, and you will be more likely to win success.

Five Hundred Dollars |Horatio Alger

British Dictionary definitions for win (1 of 2)

win ¹

/ (wɪn) /

verb wins, winning or won

(intr) to achieve first place in a competition

(tr) to gain or receive (a prize, first place, etc) in a competition

(tr) to succeed in or gain (something) with an effort we won recognition

win one's spurs

to achieve recognition in some field of endeavour
history to be knighted

to gain victory or triumph in (a battle, argument, etc)

(tr) to earn or procure (a living, etc) by work

(tr) to take possession of, esp violently; capture the Germans never won Leningrad

(when intr, foll by out, through, etc) to reach with difficulty (a desired condition or position) or become free, loose, etc, with effort the boat won the shore; the boat won through to the shore

(tr) to turn someone into (a supporter, enemy, etc) you have just won an ally

(tr) to gain (the sympathy, loyalty, etc) of someone

(tr) to obtain (a woman, etc) in marriage

(tr)

to extract (ore, coal, etc) from a mine
to extract (metal or other minerals) from ore
to discover and make (a mineral deposit) accessible for mining

you can't win informal an expression of resignation after an unsuccessful attempt to overcome difficulties

noun

informal a success, victory, or triumph

profit; winnings

the act or fact of reaching the finishing line or post first

Derived forms of win

winnable, adjective

Word Origin for win

Old English winnan; related to Old Norse vinna, German gewinnen

British Dictionary definitions for win (2 of 2)

win ²

/ (wɪn) /

verb wins, winning, won or winned (tr) Irish, Scot and Northern English dialect

to dry (grain, hay, peat, etc) by exposure to sun and air

a less common word for winnow

Word Origin for win

Old English, perhaps a variant of winnow

Idioms and Phrases with win

win

In addition to the idioms beginning with win

win by a nose
wind down
wind up
wine and dine
wing it
win hands down
winning streak
win one's spurs
win on points
win out
win over
win some, lose some
win through

also see:

(win) hands down
no-win situation
slow but sure (steady wins the race)
you can't win
you can't win 'em all

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

win

verb (used without object), won, win·ning.

verb (used with object), won, win·ning.

noun

adjective

interjection

Verb Phrases

Idioms for win

Origin of win

SYNONYMS FOR win

OTHER WORDS FROM win

Words nearby win

Definition for win (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), winned, win·ning. Scot. and North England.

Origin of win

Example sentences from the Web for win

British Dictionary definitions for win (1 of 2)

verb wins, winning or won

noun

Derived forms of win

Word Origin for win

British Dictionary definitions for win (2 of 2)

verb wins, winning, won or winned (tr) Irish, Scot and Northern English dialect

Word Origin for win

Idioms and Phrases with win

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

win

verb (used without object), won, win·ning.

verb (used with object), won, win·ning.

noun

adjective

interjection

Verb Phrases

Idioms for win

Origin of win

SYNONYMS FOR win

OTHER WORDS FROM win

Words nearby win

Definition for win (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), winned, win·ning. Scot. and North England.

Origin of win

Words related to win

Example sentences from the Web for win

British Dictionary definitions for win (1 of 2)

verb wins, winning or won

noun

Derived forms of win

Word Origin for win

British Dictionary definitions for win (2 of 2)

verb wins, winning, won or winned (tr) Irish, Scot and Northern English dialect

Word Origin for win

Idioms and Phrases with win