win
A1Universal – used in all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
To achieve victory in a competition, contest, or struggle.
To gain something desirable through effort or luck; to succeed in achieving a goal; to be victorious.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The focus is on success against opposition or challenge. Can be transitive (win a prize, win a match) or intransitive (Our team won). 'Win' vs 'beat': You win a game, but you beat an opponent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The verb is used identically. The noun 'win' (e.g., 'a big win for the team') is perhaps slightly more frequent in sports journalism in AmE.
Connotations
Similar strong positive connotations of success and achievement in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
S-V (intransitive): The home team won.S-V-O (transitive): She won the race.S-V-Oi-Od (ditransitive): His idea won him a promotion.S-V-A (intransitive with adjunct): They won by a large margin.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “win hands down”
- “win the day”
- “win someone's heart”
- “you can't win them all”
- “win by a nose”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To secure a deal or contract; to gain market share.
Academic
To receive a grant, scholarship, or award.
Everyday
To succeed in games, sports, or lotteries.
Technical
In computing/game theory: for a program or strategy to achieve its objective.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The away win boosted the team's confidence.
- It was a major win for environmental campaigners.
- Celebrating their third win in a row.
American English
- That game was a must-win for the playoffs.
- Getting the bill passed was a big win for the mayor.
- The company announced a win-win deal for both parties.
verb
British English
- They hope to win the league this season.
- She won a fortune on the premium bonds.
- The proposal won unanimous support from the committee.
American English
- He just won a huge grant for his research.
- The bill finally won passage in the Senate.
- Our product needs to win over new customers.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother wants to win the game.
- Did you win a prize?
- It's not important to win; it's important to participate.
- The new policy failed to win public approval.
- The lawyer's compelling argument won the case for her client.
- The novel won several prestigious literary awards.
- His charismatic speech won over even the most sceptical delegates.
- The start-up struggled to win market share from the established giants.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'WIN' as 'What I Need' – you get what you need when you win.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A COMPETITION (to win at life); ARGUMENT IS WAR (to win an argument).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'win' with a person as the direct object. In Russian, 'победить кого-то' is common, but in English you 'beat' or 'defeat' someone. You 'win' a game/trophy, but you 'beat' an opponent. Incorrect: 'I won him.' Correct: 'I beat him.' or 'I won against him.'
Common Mistakes
- Using 'win' instead of 'beat' with a person/team as object.
- Confusing 'win' (active success) with 'earn' (receive payment for work).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'win' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
You 'win' a game, competition, or prize. You 'beat' (or 'defeat') a person, team, or opponent. Structure: Win + thing; Beat + person/team.
Yes, commonly. As a noun, it means 'an instance of winning' (e.g., 'a convincing win') or a success (e.g., 'a win for local communities').
It's an adjective describing a situation or agreement that is advantageous or satisfactory for all parties involved.
It is an irregular verb: win – won – won.