won

Verb

win (third-person singular simple present wins, present participle winning, simple past won or (obsolete) wan, past participle won)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To conquer, defeat.
   • For and we doo bataille we two wyl fyghte with one knyȝt at ones
     and therfore yf ye wille fyghte ſoo we wille be redy at what houre ye wille aſſigne
     And yf ye wynne vs in bataille the lady ſhal haue her landes ageyne
     ye ſay wel ſayd ſir Vwayne
     therfor make yow redy ſo that ye be here to morne in...1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV
2. (intransitive, transitive) To reach some destination or object, despite difficulty or toil (now usually intransitive, with preposition or locative adverb).
   • I well may gang out, love, but I'll never win home.c. 17th century, unknown author, The Baron of Brackley (traditional folk song)
3. (transitive) To triumph or achieve victory in (a game, a war, etc.).
4. (transitive) To gain (a prize) by succeeding in competition or contest.
   • to win the jackpot in a lottery; to win a bottle of wine in a raffle
5. (transitive) To obtain (someone) by wooing; to make an ally or friend of (frequently with over).
   • Thy virtue won me; with virtue preserve me.a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London...
6. (intransitive) To achieve victory.
   • Who would win in a fight between an octopus and a dolphin?

See all 23 meanings of win