Library / English Dictionary

WIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: winning    , won   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A victory (as in a race or other competition)

Example:

he was happy to get the win

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("win" is a kind of...):

triumph; victory (a successful ending of a struggle or contest)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "win"):

first-place finish (a finish in first place (as in a race))

Derivation:

win (be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious)

win (obtain advantages, such as points, etc.)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Something won (especially money)

Synonyms:

profits; win; winnings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("win" is a kind of...):

financial gain (the amount of monetary gain)

Derivation:

win (win something through one's efforts)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious

Example:

Win the game

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

"Win" entails doing...:

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "win"):

romp (win easily)

carry (be successful in)

take (obtain by winning)

sweep (win an overwhelming victory in or on)

carry (win in an election)

prevail; triumph (prove superior)

take the cake (rank first; used often in a negative context)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

They win

Antonym:

lose (fail to win)

Derivation:

win (a victory (as in a race or other competition))

winner (a gambler who wins a bet)

winner (the contestant who wins the contest)

winnings (something won (especially money))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

Example:

win points

Synonyms:

advance; gain; gain ground; get ahead; make headway; pull ahead; win

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "win"):

steal (steal a base)

hit; rack up; score; tally (gain points in a game)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

win (a victory (as in a race or other competition))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Win something through one's efforts

Example:

win someone's confidence and friendship

Synonyms:

acquire; gain; win

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "win" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "win"):

cozen (cheat or trick)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence example:

They win the money

Antonym:

lose (fail to get or obtain)

Derivation:

win (something won (especially money))

winner (a person with a record of successes)

winner (a gambler who wins a bet)

winning (succeeding with great difficulty)

winnings (something won (especially money))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions

Example:

its beauty won Paris the name 'City of Lights'

Synonyms:

earn; garner; win

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "win" is one way to...):

acquire; get (come into the possession of something concrete or abstract)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "win"):

letter (win an athletic letter)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 5

Meaning:

Attain success or reach a desired goal

Example:

she struggled to overcome her handicap and won

Synonyms:

bring home the bacon; come through; deliver the goods; succeed; win

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

"Win" entails doing...:

assay; attempt; essay; seek; try (make an effort or attempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "win"):

hit (hit the intended target or goal)

bring off; carry off; manage; negociate; pull off (be successful; achieve a goal)

clear; pass (go unchallenged; be approved)

hit the jackpot; luck out (succeed by luck)

nail; nail down; peg (succeed in obtaining a position)

make it; pass (go successfully through a test or a selection process)

run (make without a miss)

act; work (have an effect or outcome; often the one desired or expected)

pan out (be a success)

accomplish; achieve; attain; reach (to gain with effort)

arrive; get in; go far; make it (succeed in a big way; get to the top)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Derivation:

winner (a person with a record of successes)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Mother didn't say anything about our money, and she won't wish us to give up everything.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Most bacteria won't hurt you - less than 1 percent of the different types make people sick.

(Bacterial Infections, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

We won’t see another supermoon like this until 2034.

(November Supermoon a Spectacular Sight, NASA)

Methionine is added because animals won't grow without it.

(US Researchers Genetically Modify Corn to Boost Nutritional Value, VOA News)

However, observations from this experiment alone won’t lead directly to the discovery of a cure.

(Subtracting Gravity from Alzheimer's, NASA)

“Mebbe he won’t do for us, but mark my words, hell ’ll be an ice-box to this ship from now on.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“You’ll come with me, won’t you?”

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I won't call 'm to come an' don't you call 'm to come back.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

There were many of us who were glad enough to win back our freedom, and yet who had no wish to have murder on our souls.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Won't you let this be at my camp-fire to-morrow night?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)