# winner

/ˈwɪnɝ/ (US) · /wˈɪnɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a victor

noun · CEFR A2

a person or team that wins a game, race, or competition.

For teachers: a person, team, or animal that achieves victory in a contest or competition.

- The winner of the marathon received a gold medal and a cash prize.
- The tournament winner was decided by a narrow margin in the final minutes of the match, surprising the favoured defending champions.

### 2. a winning point

noun · CEFR B1

the goal or point that makes a team win the game.

For teachers: a decisive point, goal, or shot that secures victory in a match.

- He scored the winner in the last minute of the football match.
- The striker's powerful header proved to be the winner, sending the home crowd into a frenzy of celebration.

### 3. a success

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something that is very successful or popular.

For teachers: a person or thing that is highly successful, effective, or popular in a specific context.

- This new recipe is a real winner; everyone at the party loved it.
- The marketing department is confident that the new product line will be a winner among younger consumers who value sustainability.

## Examples

- The winner of the race received a gold medal.
- After a long and difficult match, the referee raised the hand of the winner.
- While the immediate winner of the election celebrated, political analysts began debating whether the narrow margin of victory would allow for any significant legislative changes.

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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.