winning
B1Neutral to informal; also common in sports and business contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Being successful in a competition, game, or contest; achieving victory.
Having qualities that gain approval, admiration, or affection; appealing, charming.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As an adjective, has two distinct senses: (1) relating to the act of winning a contest; (2) attractive, charming, persuasive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Generally identical in usage. The '-ing' form (verb/gerund/adjective) is consistent. No significant spelling variations.
Connotations
Both share the same core connotations. The adjective 'winning' (charming) may be slightly more literary/formal in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparatively common in both varieties. Slightly higher in American sports and business media ('winning strategy', 'winning team').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
winning at [game/sport]winning by [score/margin]winning against [opponent]winning over [audience/voters]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The winning post (end goal)”
- “Winning isn't everything”
- “Winning ways (consistent success)”
- “Winning hand (strong position)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to successful bids, strategies, or market positions ('the winning proposal').
Academic
Used in game theory, economics, and sports studies to describe optimal outcomes.
Everyday
Common in discussions of sports, competitions, lotteries, and personal achievements.
Technical
In computing/gaming: 'winning state', 'winning condition'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team are focused on winning the cup.
- He dreams of winning the lottery.
American English
- The team is focused on winning the championship.
- She is winning the argument convincingly.
adverb
British English
- (Rare as standalone adverb; found in compounds like 'winningly')
American English
- (Rare as standalone adverb; found in compounds like 'winningly')
adjective
British English
- She gave him a winning smile.
- The winning horse crossed the finishing post first.
American English
- He has a winning personality.
- The winning touchdown came in the final seconds.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Our team is winning the game!
- She has a winning ticket.
- He scored the winning goal in the last minute.
- Her winning personality made her very popular.
- The company's winning strategy secured them the contract.
- Despite winning the debate, he failed to convince the committee.
- The candidate succeeded in winning over the sceptical electorate with a combination of charisma and policy.
- His argument was logically sound, but it was her winning delivery that ultimately persuaded the jury.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a gold medal being PINNED on a WINNER → WINN-ING.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINNING IS UP/FRONT (the winning horse is ahead); WINNING IS ACQUIRING A PRIZE; WINNING IS ATTRACTIVE (a winning personality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'winding' (/ˈwaɪndɪŋ/).
- Adjective 'winning' (charming) is not directly translatable as 'побеждающий'—use 'обаятельный', 'завоевывающий симпатии'.
- Avoid using 'winning' as a noun for 'victory'—'victory' is the noun.
Common Mistakes
- *'He is a win person.' (Incorrect: use 'He is a winning person.' for charm, or 'He is a winner.' for success)
- Confusing 'winning' (adj) with 'winnable' (capable of being won).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'winning' used to mean 'charming or appealing'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily the present participle/gerund of the verb 'win' and an adjective. It is not commonly used as a standalone noun (use 'victory' or 'win').
'Winning' is more general and can describe the process or attribute; 'victorious' is more formal and often describes the state after a significant or final triumph.
Yes, as an adjective it can mean 'charming' or 'engaging', e.g., 'a winning smile'.
No, both are pronounced identically: /ˈwɪnɪŋ/.
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