win

verb

Save Word

\ ˈwin

won\ ˈwən

\; winning

Definition of win

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to get possession of by effort or fortune

b : to obtain by work : earn striving to win a living from the sterile soil

2a : to gain in or as if in battle or contest won the championship

b : to be the victor in won the war

3a : to make friendly or favorable to oneself or to one's cause —often used with over won him over with persuasive arguments

b : to induce to accept oneself in marriage was unable to win the woman he loved

4a : to obtain (something, such as ore, coal, or clay) by mining

b : to prepare (a vein or bed) for regular mining

c : to recover (metal) from ore

5 : to reach by expenditure of effort

intransitive verb

1 : to gain the victory in a contest : succeed

2 : to succeed in arriving at a place or a state

win

noun

Definition of win (Entry 2 of 2)

: victory especially : first place at the finish (as of a horse race)

Other Words from win Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing win Learn More About win

Synonyms & Antonyms for win

Synonyms: Verb

Synonyms: Noun

Antonyms: Verb

lose

Antonyms: Noun

Examples of win in a Sentence

Verb The boxer won the match by knockout. He won't give up until he's won the argument. Neither candidate won the debate. We tried our best, but you can't win them all. They played well, but they didn't win. The chances of winning are 1 in 100,000. It's not about winning or losing. It's about having fun. She won a tennis trophy. Her book won the Pulitzer Prize. She won praise for her hard work. Noun a pitcher with 15 wins Their win over the first place team was unexpected. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Positivity and goodness win out; more than once, dancing saves the day. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2022 If the Phillies win, the player will earn a return on the moneyline bet plus their $200 stake back. — Xl Media, cleveland, 23 June 2022 During the 2021 NBA Finals against Phoenix, Connaughton averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in helping the Bucks win the NBA championship. — Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel, 22 June 2022 In 2000, Siragusa helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl over the Giants. — Nate Atkins, The Indianapolis Star, 22 June 2022 Scott said be believes the party can win 54 seats and retake control of the chamber amid soaring inflation and Biden's low approval ratings. — Jill Colvin, ajc, 22 June 2022 All the polls are now indicating that Netanyahu's Likud party will win the most seats in the parliament at around 35 seats in the 120-seat parliament. — Hadas Gold, CNN, 22 June 2022 Scott said be believes the party can win 54 seats and retake control of the chamber amid soaring inflation and Biden's low approval ratings. — Jill Colvin, Chron, 22 June 2022 The party is spending big to help some of the most extremist candidates in the country win their GOP primaries. — Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 21 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Kiffin, ever aware of timing, responded to a reply to a tweet of his in reaction to Friday's win by Notre Dame over Tennessee baseball after Sunday's season-ending 7-3 loss by UT to the Fighting Irish. — Nick Gray, USA TODAY, 13 June 2022 The 23-year-old right-hander kept up the act Saturday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, helping the Arkansas Travelers to a 5-2 win against the Wichita Wind Surge. — Mitchell Gladstone, Arkansas Online, 12 June 2022 Evan Cali hurled a complete-game shutout, propelling the second-seeded Tigers (20-3) to the quarterfinal win. — Globe Correspondent, BostonGlobe.com, 11 June 2022 The 24-year-old completed 5⅔ scoreless innings, allowing seven hits without a walk, to guide the Tigers to a 3-1 win in the second of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays in front of 30,738 fans at Comerica Park. — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 11 June 2022 But in the deciding game, Matthew Gretler hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh and ace Cooper Hjerpe — in his first relief appearance of the season — struck out five over the final two innings to carry OSU to a win. — oregonlive, 11 June 2022 Candidates hope to get support from LGBTQ voters, who are a major part of the Democratic Party coalition, and can help push a candidate to a primary win and provide a general-election boost. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 11 June 2022 The Crusaders closed the winningest season in program history on a high note, rolling to a 14-4 five-inning win over McHenry in the Class 4A third-place game at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2022 Both hits have come against the A’s, including a two-run double Thursday as part of the four-run eighth inning that lifted them to an 8-4 win. — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 10 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'win.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for win

Verb

Middle English winnen "to strive, struggle, obtain by exertion, earn with labor, gain, triumph," going back to Old English winnan "to labor, strive," going back to a Germanic verb base *wenu̯- (whence Old Saxon winnan "to struggle, suffer, acquire," Old High German, "to labor, struggle, rage," Old Norse vinna "to labor, suffer, gain," Gothic winnan "to suffer"); akin to Sanskrit vanoti "(s/he) demands, strives for, obtains," vanate "(s/he) shall obtain," Avestan vanaiti "(s/he) defeats"

Note: According to Rix, et al., Lexikon der indogermanischen Verben (Wiesbaden, 1998), Indo-European *u̯en-, the source of these verbs is distinct from *u̯enH-, the source of Sanskrit vanate "(s/he) likes, takes pleasure in," Latin venus "physical desire, qualities exciting desire, charm" (see venus).