win

Where “win” sits in English frequency

Definition

1. 1
   To conquer, defeat.
2. 2
   To reach some destination or object, despite difficulty or toil (now usually intransitive, with preposition or locative adverb).
3. 3
   To triumph or achieve victory in (a game, a war, etc.).
4. 4
   To gain (a prize) by succeeding in competition or contest.
5. 5
   To obtain (someone) by wooing; to make an ally or friend of (frequently with over).
6. 6
   To achieve victory.
7. 7
   To have power, coercion or control.
8. 8
   To obtain (something desired).
9. 9
   To cause a victory for someone.
10. 10
    To extract (ore, coal, etc.).
11. 11
    To defeat or surpass someone or something.
12. 12
    To take priority.

Etymology

From Middle English winnen, from Old English winnan (“to labour, swink, toil,”) (compare Old English ġewinnan (“conquer, obtain, gain; endure, bear, suffer; be ill”)), from Proto-West Germanic *winnan, from Proto-Germanic *winnaną (“to swink, labour, win, gain, fight”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to strive, wish, desire, love”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian wan, wane, wen, wine, wune (“to win”), Saterland Frisian and West Frisian winne (“to win”), Cimbrian gabènnan (“to win”), Dutch and Low German winnen (“to win”), German gewinnen (“to win”), Luxembourgish gewannen (“to win”), Danish vinde (“to win”), Faroese and Icelandic vinna (“to win”), Norwegian Bokmål vinne (“to win”), Norwegian Nynorsk vinna, vinne (“to win”), Swedish vinna (“to win”), Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (winnan, “to suffer”); also Latin venus (“beauty, charm, elegance, grace; beloved, love”), Albanian vuaj, vuj (“to suffer; to endure”), Sanskrit वनोति (vanoti, “to desire, like, love, wish; to gain, procure; to win; to prepare; to hurt, injure”).

This word in other languages

Frequently Asked Questions