won
B1Neutral, used across formal and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Past tense and past participle of 'win': achieved victory in a competition, contest, or conflict.
Acquired or gained something through effort or as a prize; succeeded in attaining a desired outcome.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most common as the past form of 'win', but note the homograph 'won' (currency unit of North and South Korea). Rarely used as an adjective (e.g., 'a won game'), usually 'winning' is preferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning. Spelling and past tense formation identical.
Connotations
Identical; both denote successful outcome or victory.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + won + (direct object)Subject + won + (indirect object) + (direct object)Subject + won + against/over + opponentVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “won hands down”
- “won the day”
- “won the toss”
- “won over (someone)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Won the contract after months of negotiation.
Academic
The researcher won the prestigious grant.
Everyday
She won first place in the school race.
Technical
The candidate won the majority of electoral votes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Our team won the football match.
- He won a scholarship to university.
- They won the legal case.
American English
- Our team won the soccer game.
- She won a grant for her research.
- They won the court case.
adverb
British English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
- Not applicable.
- No common adverb form.
American English
- Rarely used as an adverb.
- Not applicable.
- No common adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The won game was a relief.
- A won battle doesn't guarantee the war.
- With a won argument, he smiled.
American English
- The won game was a relief.
- A won battle doesn't guarantee the war.
- With a won argument, he smiled.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I won a prize.
- My brother won the game.
- We won!
- She won the tennis tournament last summer.
- They won £100 in the competition.
- Who won the race?
- The candidate won by a significant margin.
- After a lengthy debate, our proposal won.
- He won her trust through consistent honesty.
- The novel won the Booker Prize for its innovative narrative.
- The army won a decisive victory against overwhelming odds.
- Her argument won over even the most sceptical jurors.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Won' sounds like 'one' – you become number one when you win.
Conceptual Metaphor
WINNING IS ACQUIRING POSSESSION (won a trophy), WINNING IS ACHIEVING A GOAL (won freedom).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'one' (один).
- Не путать с 'won' (корейская валюта).
- Проверьте контекст: глагол (выиграл) или существительное (валюта)?
Common Mistakes
- Using 'winned' (incorrect) instead of 'won'.
- Confusing with 'win' (present).
- Misspelling as 'one'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'won' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's used for any context involving victory, success, or gaining something (e.g., won an argument, won a contract, won her heart).
The present tense is 'win' (e.g., I win, you win, they win).
Typically no. As a noun, it refers to the currency of Korea (e.g., South Korean won). The past tense of 'win' is purely a verb form.
Irregular. The past tense and past participle of 'win' is 'won' (not 'winned').