# winnings

/ˈwɪnɪŋz/ (US) · /wˈɪnɪŋz/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/winnings
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

the money you get when you win a competition, a game, or a bet.

For teachers: money won in a competition, game of chance, or gambling activity.

## Examples

- He spent all his winnings on a new car.
- After the poker game ended, she carefully counted her winnings and put them in her wallet.
- The lottery winner decided to donate a significant portion of his winnings to local charities rather than investing the entire sum in the stock market.

## Pitfalls

- Not "His winning is very large." but "His winnings are very large." — When referring to the money won, the word must be plural and take a plural verb.

## Usage notes

- Takes plural verb agreement; the singular form 'winning' is not used to refer to the prize money.

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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.