- (of a person, character, etc) charming, engaging, or attractive: winning ways, a winning smile
- gaining victory: the winning stroke
- (plural) money, prizes, or valuables won, esp in gambling
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
win•ning /ˈwɪnɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n.
adj. [usually: before a noun]
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] the act of one that wins.
- Usually, winnings. [plural] something won, esp. money.
adj. [usually: before a noun]
- successful or victorious:a winning team.
- pleasing or pleasant:a winning personality.
win1 /wɪn/USA pronunciation
v., won/wʌn/USA pronunciation win•ning, n.
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- to finish first, as in a race or contest;
win a victory in: [~ + object]She won the marathon.[no object]He never wins. - to be victorious in (a battle, war, etc.):[~ + object]They won the war.
- to achieve by effort, as through hard work, or by competition or luck: [~ + object]He won the prize.[no object]We never seem to win.
- to gain, as by one's good qualities, hard work, or influence:[~ + object]She won the respect of her coworkers.
- win over, to gain the favor, consent, or support of: [~ + object + over]Her arguments eventually won us over.[~ + over + object]She could win over even the most stubborn opponents.
n. [countable]
- a victory, as in a game, a horse race, etc.
win•ning
(win′ing),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
win′ning•ly, adv.
win′ning•ness, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the act of a person or thing that wins.
- Usually, winnings. something that is won, esp. money.
- Mining
- any opening by which coal is being or has been extracted.
- a bed of coal ready for mining.
adj.
- that wins;
successful or victorious, as in a contest:the winning team. - charming;
engaging;
pleasing:a winning child; a winning smile.
- 1250–1300; Middle English (noun, nominal); see win, -ing1, -ing2
win′ning•ness, n.
- 5. captivating, attractive, winsome.
- 1. 4. losing. 5. repulsive.
win1
(win),USA pronunciation v., won, win•ning, n.
v.i.
v.t.
n.
win′na•ble, adj.
win2 (win),USA pronunciation v.t., winned, win•ning. [Scot. and North Eng.]
v.i.
- to finish first in a race, contest, or the like.
- to succeed by striving or effort:He applied for a scholarship and won.
- to gain the victory;
overcome an adversary:The home team won.
v.t.
- to succeed in reaching (a place, condition, etc.), esp. by great effort:They won the shore through a violent storm.
- to get by effort, as through labor, competition, or conquest:He won his post after years of striving.
- to gain (a prize, fame, etc.).
- to be successful in (a game, battle, etc.).
- to make (one's way), as by effort or ability.
- to attain or reach (a point, goal, etc.).
- to gain (favor, love, consent, etc.), as by qualities or influence.
- to gain the favor, regard, or adherence of.
- to gain the consent or support of;
persuade (often fol. by over):The speech won them over to our side. - to persuade to marry;
gain in marriage. - Mining, British Terms[Brit. Mining.]
- to obtain (ore, coal, etc.).
- to prepare (a vein, bed, mine, etc.) for working, by means of shafts or the like.
- win out, to win or succeed, esp. over great odds;
triumph:His finer nature finally won out.
n.
- a victory, as in a game or horse race.
- Sportthe position of the competitor who comes in first in a horse race, harness race, etc. Cf. place (def. 27b), show (def. 29).
- bef. 900; Middle English winnen (verb, verbal), Old English winnan to work, fight, bear; cognate with German gewinnen, Old Norse vinna, Gothic winnan
- 5. obtain, secure, acquire, achieve, reach, procure. See gain 1. 12. convince.
win2 (win),USA pronunciation v.t., winned, win•ning. [Scot. and North Eng.]
- Scottish Termsto dry (hay, wood, etc.) by exposure to air and sun.
- perh. variant of winnow 1550–60
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
winning /ˈwɪnɪŋ/ adj
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
win /wɪn/ vb (wins, winning, won)
- (intransitive) to achieve first place in a competition
- (transitive) to gain or receive (a prize, first place, etc) in a competition
- (transitive) to succeed in or gain (something) with an effort: we won recognition
- to gain victory or triumph in (a battle, argument, etc)
- (transitive) to earn or procure (a living, etc) by work
- when intr, followed by out, through, etc: to reach with difficulty (a desired condition or position) or become free, loose, etc, with effort: the boat won the shore, the boat won through to the shore
- (transitive) to gain (the sympathy, loyalty, etc) of someone
- (transitive) to obtain (a woman, etc) in marriage
- (transitive)
- to extract (ore, coal, etc) from a mine
- to extract (metal or other minerals) from ore
- to discover and make (a mineral deposit) accessible for mining
- you can't win ⇒ informal an expression of resignation after an unsuccessful attempt to overcome difficulties
- informal a success, victory, or triumph
- profit; winnings
- the act or fact of reaching the finishing line or post first
win /wɪn/ vb (wins, winning, won, winned) (transitive) Irish Scot Northern English dialect
a less common word for winnow
'winning streak' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):