Win — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈwin/

Meaning & Definition of Win

Win (verb)

  1. to get possession of by effort or fortune
  2. to obtain by work, earn
  3. to gain in or as if in battle or contest

Win (noun)

  1. victory; especially, first place at the finish (as of a horse race)

Win (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to achieve victory (as in a contest)

    "the kind of person who always has to win—even if the game is just for fun"

    similar: conquer, prevail, triumph, carry the day, kick butt
    related: overcome, sweep, squeak, squeeze, contend, vie, succeed, breeze, romp
    opposite: lose
    near: collapse, fail, flop, fold, wash out, flounder, struggle, decline, slip, slump, wane

  2. to receive as return for effort

    "win a gold medal in swimming"

    similar: acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure
    related: clear, gross, net, accomplish, achieve, notch (up), score, accumulate, amass, rack up, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake
    opposite: forfeit, lose
    near: accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield

  3. to obtain (as a goal) through effort

    "won a substantial victory in the struggle for civil rights for all"

    similar: achieve, attain, bag, chalk up, clock (up) (chiefly British), gain, hit, log, make, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score
    related: acquire, capture, carry, draw, garner, get, land, obtain, procure, realize, secure, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to), meet, rival, tie, touch, beat, excel, outdo, surpass, top
    near: fall short (of), miss, fail (at), lose

Win (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an instance of defeating an enemy or opponent

    "a team with 12 wins and two losses"

    similar: palm, triumph, victory
    related: capture, conquest, mastery, subjugation, vanquishing, blowout, landslide, laugher, romp, runaway, shutout, sweep, walkaway, walkover, squeaker, success, takeover
    opposite: beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, loss, overthrow, rout, shellacking, trimming, whipping
    near: upset, collapse, debacle, disaster, failure, fizzle, flop, nonsuccess, washout, decline, slip, slump, wane, lurch, setback

Related Entry: Win (against) (verb)

Win (against) is a different word from Win. The synonyms below are for win (against), not for win.

  1. to achieve a victory over

    "a child prodigy who has already won against a number of more experienced chess players"

    similar: beat, best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

Related Entry: Win (over) (verb)

Win (over) is a different word from Win. The synonyms below are for win (over), not for win.

  1. to cause (someone) to agree with a belief or course of action by using arguments or earnest requests

    "a combination of solid reasoning and outright begging won my parents over, and I became an exchange student for a year"

    similar: argue, bring, bring around, convert, convince, gain, get, induce, move, persuade, prevail (on or upon), satisfy, talk (into)
    related: blandish, blarney, cajole, coax, entreat, exhort, fast-talk, urge, wheedle, allure, beguile, lead on, lure, seduce, snow, tempt, brainwash, overpersuade, incline, influence, prompt, sell, sway, attract, draw, entice, interest, chew over, converse, debate, discuss, dispute, hash (over), moot, reason (with)
    near: deter, discourage, dissuade, unsell

Related Entry: Win (back) (verb)

Win (back) is a different word from Win. The synonyms below are for win (back), not for win.

  1. as in redeem, buy (back)

    similar: buy (back), redeem
    opposite: hock, pawn, pledge, deposit, mortgage, bond

Related Entry: No-win (adjective)

No-win is a different word from Win. The synonyms below are for no-win, not for win.

  1. as in impossible, hopeless

    similar: hopeless, impossible, lost, unattainable, hollow, idle, meaningless, pointless, valueless, worthless, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, wanting, abortive, barren, bootless, empty, fruitless, futile, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficacious, otiose, profitless, unavailing, unproductive, unprofitable, unsuccessful, useless, vain, counterproductive
    opposite: deadly, effective, effectual, efficacious, efficient, fruitful, potent, productive, profitable, successful, virtuous, meaningful, worthwhile, adequate, sufficient, applicable, feasible, functional, practicable, practical, realizable, usable, workable

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Win

The most common words with a similar meaning to Win:

Chiefly British: clock (up)
conquer, prevail, triumph, acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry, come by, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, knock down, land, make, obtain, procure, pull down, realize, reap, secure, achieve, chalk up, hit, log, notch (up), rack up, ring up, score, carry the day, kick butt, palm, victory

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Win

Words with the opposite meaning of Win:

lose, forfeit, beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, loss, overthrow, rout, shellacking, trimming, whipping

Related Words for Win

overcome, sweep, squeak, squeeze, contend, vie, succeed, breeze, romp, clear, gross, net, accomplish, accumulate, amass, catch, pick up, annex, occupy, take over, reacquire, reattain, recapture, regain, remake, amount (to), approach, equal, match, measure up (to)

Near Antonyms of Win

collapse, fail, flop, fold, wash out, flounder, struggle, decline, slip, slump, wane, accord, give, grant, pay, give up, hand over, part (with), relinquish, surrender, yield, fall short (of), miss, fail (at), upset, debacle, disaster, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess

Word Forms of Win

Inflections: won, winning

Derived words: winless (adjective), winnable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Win

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"

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Win

Words & Phrases Containing Win

win through, win-win, win or lose, win out, win over, win someone's heart, win the lottery

Frequently Asked Questions about Win

What does "Win" mean?

"Win" means to get possession of by effort or fortune. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to get possession of by effort or fortune. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Win"?

Other words for "Win" include conquer, prevail, triumph, acquire, attain, bag, bring in and capture. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Win" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Win"?

There are 90 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Win". Common alternatives include conquer, prevail, triumph, acquire, attain, bag, bring in, capture, carry and come by.

What is the opposite of "Win"?

Antonyms of "Win" include lose, forfeit, beating, defeat, drubbing, licking, loss and overthrow. Near antonyms include collapse, fail, flop and fold.

How do you use "Win" in a sentence?

Examples of "Win" in a sentence: "the kind of person who always has to win—even if the game is just for fun"; "win a gold medal in swimming"; "won a substantial victory in the struggle for civil rights for all".

Is "Win" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Win" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Win" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Win" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Win"?

"Win" is pronounced /ˈwin/.