about to win

USAGE SUMMARY

"about to win" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in any situation where something is near the completion of a process that will result in a win. For example: The basketball team was about to win the game when the buzzer sounded.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"This is what it's all about, to win a Gold Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

"That's what it's about, to win things," McNamara told BBC Scotland.

BBC

"They're about to win the championship.

The New Yorker

Agassi was about to win his third set, 6-2.

The New Yorker

I think I am about to win this tournament.

The Guardian - Books

The rain was teeming down in Bern and Hungary were about to win the World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

In Kentucky, Ron Paul's son might be about to win a Republican Senate primary.

The New York Times

I feel like I'm about to win my first cap for Wales.

Independent

OI feel like I'm about to win my first cap for Wales.

Independent

Labour still conspicuously lacks the gravitational pull of a party that is about to win.

The Guardian - Opinion

(Clinton was also about to win in Texas, by a margin of 51 47).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine it with strong verbs to add impact. For example: "The team was about to clinch the win."

Common error

Avoid using "about to win" to describe past events that did not actually result in a win. It is more accurate to say "was going to win" or "almost won" in such cases.

Linguistic Context

Infinitive phrases, like "about to win", function primarily as adjectives or adverbs modifying nouns or verbs, respectively. In this case, the phrase describes the state of being close to achieving victory, as affirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about to win" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone or something is on the verge of achieving victory. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase functions as an infinitive phrase, primarily used to create a sense of anticipation. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, and it maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for various writing styles. Consider alternatives such as "on the verge of winning" or "poised to win" for similar but nuanced expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on the verge of winning

Emphasizes being at the very edge of achieving victory.

on the cusp of victory

Highlights a critical point just before winning.

poised to win

Indicates readiness and anticipation of winning.

set to triumph

Implies a predetermined path leading to success.

on track to win

Focuses on following a successful trajectory.

assured of victory

Conveys a high degree of certainty about winning.

virtually certain to win

Emphasizes near-absolute certainty of victory.

expected to win

Highlights external anticipation of winning.

in line to win

Suggests being next in sequence to receive the win.

nearing victory

Focuses on the process of getting closer to the win.

FAQs

What does "about to win" mean?

The phrase "about to win" means that someone or something is very close to achieving victory or success in a competition, game, or other endeavor.

How can I use "about to win" in a sentence?

You can use "about to win" to describe a situation where the outcome is highly likely to be a victory. For instance, "The runner was "about to win" the race when they tripped near the finish line".

What are some alternatives to "about to win"?

You can use alternatives like "on the verge of winning", "on the cusp of victory", or "poised to win" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "about to won" instead of "about to win"?

No, "about to won" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "about to win", where "win" is the base form of the verb.