English Reference

Word

win

Phoneticswin

US/ˈwɪn/

UK/wˈɪn/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

win

Past

won

Past participle

won

Definitions

01to be victorious

A1 · Beginner Sports

v. to be the best or first in a game, race, or competition.

v. to achieve victory in a competition, contest, or conflict. Often used intransitively to describe the outcome of a struggle.

“Our team played very well and managed to win the match by two goals.”

“Despite the challenging weather conditions, the underdog managed to win the championship, defying all expert predictions made before the season started.”

Antonyms

02to gain a prize

A1 · Beginner

v. to get a prize or money because you were successful in a competition.

v. to acquire a prize, award, or specific benefit as a result of success in a contest or lottery.

“She was so happy when she won a gold medal at the Olympics.”

“The researcher won a prestigious grant that will fund her study on renewable energy for the next three years.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

03to persuade or attract

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to persuade someone to support you or agree with you.

v. to gain the support, favour, or consent of someone, typically through persuasion or charm. Often used with the particle 'over'.

“The politician worked hard to win over the voters before the election.”

“The marketing team struggled to win the client's approval, eventually succeeding after presenting a revised strategy that addressed all previous concerns.”

Antonyms

04to extract resources

C2 · Proficiency Science Technical

v. to get coal, oil, or metal out of the ground.

v. to extract ore, coal, or other minerals from a mine or quarry.

“The company uses new technology to win coal from deep underground.”

“The geological survey assessed the feasibility of winning rare earth metals from the newly discovered deposits in the northern territory.”

05a victory

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a success in a game, an election, or a competition.

n. a specific instance of victory or success in a competitive context.

“The team's latest win puts them at the top of the league table.”

“After a series of disappointing losses, the narrow win in the final minutes of the game provided a much-needed boost to the squad's morale.”

Antonyms

06a positive outcome

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a small success or something good that happens in your life or work.

n. a successful achievement or a positive outcome, often used in professional or personal development contexts.

“Getting the project finished a day early was a big win for the whole team.”

“Securing the partnership was a major win for the startup, providing them with the necessary infrastructure to scale their operations globally.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “win” in context.

Verb

01. celebrate a win

“The fans gathered in the streets to celebrate a win against their rivals.”

verb + noun

02. deserve a win

“They worked so hard all season that they really deserve a win today.”

verb + noun

03. secure a win

“The team played defensively in the final minutes to secure a win.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. big win

“Landing this new contract was a big win for the small company.”

adj + noun

05. easy win

“The champion expected an easy win against the inexperienced player.”

adj + noun

06. narrow win

“It was a narrow win, with the final score being 21 to 20.”

adj + noun

Noun

07. win for the team

“Getting a new sponsor was a major win for the team this year.”

noun + prep + noun

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'a big win' or 'an easy win'.

Confusables

win vs earn

Earn is the result of work or effort, while win is the result of luck, a game, or a competition.

RememberEarn = Effort. Win = Winner.

win vs beat

Win takes the activity or prize as its direct object, whereas beat takes the opponent as its direct object.

RememberWin the game; beat the player.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Idioms

Domains

ComputingMining

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

QR code

englishreference.com/q/win

English Reference