# triumph

/ˈtɹaɪəmf/ (US) · /tɹˈaɪʌmf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/triumph
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a great success

noun · CEFR B2

a big victory or success that happens after you work very hard or face problems.

For teachers: a significant and conclusive success or victory following an effort, conflict, or confrontation of obstacles.

- Winning the championship was a personal triumph for the young athlete.
- The successful launch of the satellite represented a major technical triumph for the engineering team after years of setbacks.

### 2. feeling of joy

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the feeling of being very happy and proud because you have succeeded.

For teachers: a state of great joy or exultation resulting from a success or victory.

- He returned home in triumph, showing his trophy to everyone he met.
- There was a note of triumph in her voice as she announced that the contract had finally been signed.

### 3. Ancient Roman ceremony

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a grand parade in Ancient Rome to celebrate a general who won a big war.

For teachers: a formal, sanctified ceremonial procession held in Ancient Rome to publicly honour a victorious military commander.

- The general was granted a triumph through the streets of Rome after his conquest.
- Historians debate the religious significance of the Roman triumph, which served both as a political tool and a ritual of purification for the returning army.

### 4. to defeat or overcome

verb · CEFR B2

to win a victory or be successful against someone or something.

For teachers: to prevail over rivals, challenges, or difficulties; to attain ascendancy through effort.

- In the end, truth and justice will triumph over lies.
- The small independent bookstore managed to triumph over the large retail chains by focusing on community events and curated selections.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'over'.

### 5. to show great joy

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to show that you are very happy about a victory.

For teachers: to exhibit exultation or to rejoice greatly over a success or an advantage gained.

- They triumphed in their victory, dancing in the streets until late at night.
- It is considered poor sportsmanship to triumph too loudly when your opponent has suffered a humiliating loss.

## Examples

- The team's win was a great triumph.
- The successful launch of the new satellite was a triumph for the entire engineering department after years of research.
- The novel is a technical triumph, managing to weave three separate timelines into a single coherent narrative without ever losing the reader's attention.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.