win Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a victory (as in a race or other competition)
    • he was happy to get the win
  2. noun something won (especially money)
    winnings; profits.
  3. verb be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
    • He won the Gold Medal in skating
    • Our home team won
    • Win the game
  4. verb win something through one's efforts
    acquire; gain.
    • I acquired a passing knowledge of Chinese
    • Gain an understanding of international finance
  5. verb obtain advantages, such as points, etc.
    make headway; advance; gain ground; get ahead; gain; pull ahead.
    • The home team was gaining ground
    • After defeating the Knicks, the Blazers pulled ahead of the Lakers in the battle for the number-one playoff berth in the Western Conference
  6. verb attain success or reach a desired goal
    come through; succeed; bring home the bacon; deliver the goods.
    • The enterprise succeeded
    • We succeeded in getting tickets to the show
    • she struggled to overcome her handicap and won

WordNet

Win transitive verb
Etymology
OE. winnen, AS. winnan to strive, labor, fight, endure; akin to OFries. winna, OS. winnan, D. winnen to win, gain, G. gewinnen, OHG. winnan to strive, struggle, Icel. vinna to labor, suffer, win, Dan. vinde to win, Sw. vinna, Goth. winnan to suffer, Skr.van to wish, get, gain, conquer. Cf. Venerate, Winsome, Wish, Wont, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Won obsolete Wan ; present participle & verbal noun Winning
Definitions
  1. To gain by superiority in competition or contest; to obtain by victory over competitors or rivals; as, to win the prize in a gate; to win money; to win a battle, or to win a country. "This city for to win." Chaucer. "Who thus shall Canaan win." Milton.
    Thy well-breathed horse Impels the flying car, and wins the course. Dryden.
  2. To allure to kindness; to bring to compliance; to gain or obtain, as by solicitation or courtship.
    Thy virtue wan me; with virtue preserve me. Sir P. Sidney.
    She is a woman; therefore to be won. Shak.
  3. To gain over to one's side or party; to obtain the favor, friendship, or support of; to render friendly or approving; as, to win an enemy; to win a jury.
  4. To come to by toil or effort; to reach; to overtake. Archaic
    Even in the porch he him did win. Spenser.
    And when the stony path began, By which the naked peak they wan, Up flew the snowy ptarmigan. Sir W. Scott.
  5. (Mining) To extract, as ore or coal. Raymond. Syn. -- To gain; get; procure; earn. See Gain.
Win intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To gain the victory; to be successful; to triumph; to prevail.
    Nor is it aught but just That he, who in debate of truth hath won, should win in arms. Milton.

Webster 1913