win
win
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:
win /wɪn/
/w/ - as in "water"
/ɪ/ - as in "sit"
/n/ - as in "nap"
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: win
Third-person singular present: wins
Present participle: winning
Past simple: won
Past participle: won
Noun:
Singular: win
Plural: wins
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To achieve victory or triumph in a contest, struggle, or endeavor.
Synonyms: succeed, prevail, conquer, triumph, overcome
Antonyms: lose, fail, forfeit, surrender, concede
To gain something desired or sought after, often through effort, skill, or chance.
Synonyms: acquire, obtain, secure, earn, gain, procure
Antonyms: lose, forfeit, squander, waste, sacrifice
To gain the affection, support, or agreement of someone.
Synonyms: persuade, convince, charm, captivate, sway, enlist
Antonyms: alienate, repel, discourage, deter, dissuade
Noun
An instance of achieving victory or success in a contest, game, or endeavor.
Synonyms: victory, triumph, success, conquest, coup
Antonyms: loss, defeat, failure, setback, debacle
The act of gaining something desired or valuable.
Synonyms: acquisition, gain, attainment, achievement, prize
Antonyms: loss, forfeit, sacrifice, surrender, relinquishment
Examples of Use
Books:
"He knew that to win her trust, he would have to be completely honest about his past." (From a contemporary romance novel)
"The strategy outlined in the book provided a clear path to win against market volatility." (From a business strategy guide)
Newspapers:
"The home team secured a decisive win in yesterday's championship game, thrilling local fans." (The Daily Chronicle, May 2024)
"Analysts predict a major political party will win a significant majority in the upcoming elections." (The National Herald, June 2025)
Online Publications:
"How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age: Timeless Wisdom for Modern Networking." (Forbes.com, March 2024)
"Tech giant announces new initiative to win over disgruntled users with enhanced privacy features." (TechCrunch, April 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"And the Oscar for Best Picture goes to... a truly deserving win!" (From the Academy Awards broadcast, March 2025)
"You need to collect all five power-ups to win this level." (Dialogue from a popular video game)
"Our goal is to win the audience over with our unique sound and energetic stage presence." (Interview with a band on a music streaming platform, February 2025)
"In this reality show, contestants compete in a series of challenges, hoping to win the grand prize." (Description on a streaming service, June 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"I really hope our team can win this weekend; they've been practicing so hard."
"It's not just about the money; for them, it's about the moral win."
"We need to find a way to win back the trust of the community after these recent events."
"Every small win builds momentum for bigger achievements down the road."
10 Quotes Using Win
"I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." (Thomas Jefferson, often paraphrased as "The harder I work, the more luck I seem to have. And the more luck I seem to have, the more I win.")
"The way to win is to work as a team." (Michael Jordan)
"You can't win if you don't play." (Unknown, commonly attributed to gambling or lotteries)
"To win without risk is to triumph without glory." (Pierre Corneille)
"A win is a win." (Often said in sports contexts, attributed to various athletes and coaches)
"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up." (Vince Lombardi, often followed by "And whether you get up to win.")
"In order to win, you must expect to win." (Richard Bach)
"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." (Leo Durocher, implying the desire to always win)
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." (Amelia Earhart, sometimes paraphrased as "The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. You can win anything you decide to.")
"First, win the war, then talk about peace." (Often attributed to military figures, though exact phrasing varies)
Etymology
The word "win" has a rich history, going back to the very roots of the English language.
Its journey starts with Proto-Germanic, an ancient language that's the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, and other Germanic languages. Here, the word was roughly "wennanan", which meant something like "to seek to gain" or "to strive for."
This then evolved into Old English, where we see two main forms:
"winnan": This meant "to labor, toil, struggle for, work at; contend, fight." So, it was about the effort involved in a struggle.
"gewinnan": This was a bit more focused on the outcome, meaning "to gain or succeed by struggling, conquer, obtain."
Around 1300 A.D. (in Middle English), these two meanings started to blend together. The sense of "exerting effort" began to fade, and the word "winnen" primarily came to mean "to earn (things of value) through effort."
Over time, this evolved into the modern sense we use today. The idea of "being successful or victorious in a game, contest, or battle" solidified around the 1300s.
So, the first known uses of "win" (as a verb) were in Old English, where it meant both to struggle or fight and to gain something through that struggle. The meaning of "getting a victory" as we understand it now really took shape in the Middle English period. The noun form, meaning "a victory," came much later, around the mid-1800s.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Win
Win-win situation: A situation or outcome where all parties involved benefit.
Win big: To achieve a significant success or large gain, often financially.
Win over: To gain the support, affection, or approval of someone.
Win hands down: To win easily and decisively.
Win the day: To achieve success or victory, especially after a struggle.
Win by a nose: To win by a very small margin (from horse racing).
Win one's spurs: To prove one's ability and earn recognition (from medieval knighthood).
Win friends and influence people: A phrase popularized by Dale Carnegie, referring to gaining popularity and sway.
Win back: To regain something that was lost, such as trust, a position, or a person's affection.
Win the lottery: To have a sudden stroke of good fortune, even if not literally winning the lottery.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of win from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
