winning

1 of 2

noun

win·​ning ˈwi-niŋ 

1

: the act of one that wins : victory

2

: something won: such as

a

: a captured territory : conquest

b

: money won by success in a game or competition

—usually used in plural

winning

2 of 2

adjective

1

a

: of or relating to winning : that wins

the winning ticket

b

: successful especially in competition

a winning team

2

: tending to please or delight

a winning personality

winningly

ˈwi-niŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• adorable
• darling
• dear
• disarming
• endearing
• lovable
• loveable
• lovesome
• precious
• sweet
• winsome

Examples of winning in a Sentence

Adjective

She scored the winning goal.

They were a winning marketing team.

Chocolate and mint is a winning combination.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hays has been consistent in an inconsistent season in which the Reds lost seven of 10 games to start the season then won six of seven, lost five of seven, won five in a row, lost 11 of 15 before another five-game winning streak ended Tuesday. —John Perrotto, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

Bryson Washington, Baylor Breakdown: Washington’s emergence down the stretch was a big reason the Bears were able to turn their season around with a six game winning streak to close the regular season. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2025

Adjective

The Week 14 Thursday Night Football feature produced more winning bets on the Packers (+3.5) and over the game total in the Lions 34-31 win. —Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The most winning aspect of Wilder's play is its warmth. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing winning

• losing/winning record
• winning combination
• winning/losing streak
• winning post

Rhymes for winning

• binning
• dinning
• ginning
• grinning
• inning
• pinning
• sinning
• skinning
• spinning
• thinning
• tinning
• twinning

Kids Definition

winning

1 of 2 noun

win·​ning

ˈwin-iŋ

1

: the act of one that wins : victory

2

: something won

especially : money won in a game or contest

—usually used in plural

winning

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: of, relating to, or used for or in the act of winning

the winning ticket

b

: successful especially in competition

a winning team

2

: tending to please or delight

a winning personality

winningly adverb