almost victorious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost victorious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is very close to achieving victory but has not quite succeeded yet. Example: "The team fought hard throughout the match and was almost victorious, but they lost in the final minutes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He added: "Following the sad demise of Airdrieonians, there was very limited time for Jim Ballantyne and his team to prepare and they were almost victorious.

The Guardian - Sport

Foggy weather delayed the Swedish attack, and though Pappenheim, returning with his cavalry, was mortally wounded, Wallenstein's forces were almost victorious.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the kind of upbeat, almost victorious declaration that would have been unimaginable just a few days ago, when the White House was desperately grappling with the website failures, Obama quoted Martin Luther King to extol the virtues of the reforms.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A war to oust Mr Hussein will be novel and almost certainly victorious, and in all likelihood swift and triumphant.

The Economist

... In the end, Schaeffler's team emerged almost completely victorious.

The Washington Post

Fully 32 summers later, on a blustery Ayrshire day, he almost emerged victorious from the Duel in the Wind.

Independent

But with only a week to spare, the ban was reversed, lending this year's festivities a victorious, almost giddy air.

The New York Times - Travel

The Patriots won 43-22 back then, and the scoreline this weekend was almost identical, New England victorious by 42-20.

The Guardian - Sport

He won the tragic prize at the City Dionysia thirteen times between ca. 499 and 458, and in his later years was probably victorious almost every time he put on a production, though Sophocles beat him at least once.

Harvard University

Keïta was victorious, winning almost 78 percent of the vote, and Cissé conceded defeat.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Further, Drake by almost all accounts emerged victorious from their verbal dust-up.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost victorious" to convey a sense of near success, but acknowledge the ultimate lack of victory. It's effective for highlighting effort and potential, even in defeat.

Common error

Avoid using "almost victorious" when the situation was clearly a significant loss. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the margin of difference was genuinely small.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost victorious" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe its state. As exemplified in Ludwig, it describes a situation or entity that nearly achieved victory but ultimately fell short.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "almost victorious" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival phrase that describes a state of near success. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. While not as frequent as other similar expressions, it effectively conveys the idea of narrowly missing victory. The phrase is most commonly found in news and encyclopedic contexts and maintains a neutral tone suitable for general use. When using "almost victorious", ensure the situation genuinely reflects a close call, avoiding overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly triumphant

Emphasizes the feeling of triumph that was almost achieved.

close to victory

Directly indicates proximity to winning.

on the verge of winning

Highlights the imminence of a potential win.

just shy of success

Focuses on the small margin by which success was missed.

narrowly defeated

Highlights the fact that defeat still occurred, despite being close to winning.

a hair's breadth from winning

Emphasizes how small the gap was to achieve victory.

within striking distance of victory

Suggests the possibility of still achieving victory.

on the cusp of triumph

Emphasizes a turning point right before winning.

virtually victorious

Implies victory in essence, but not officially.

tantalizingly close to winning

Indicates that the nearly achieved victory was tempting and frustrating.

FAQs

How can I use "almost victorious" in a sentence?

You can use "almost victorious" to describe a situation where someone or something came very close to achieving victory but ultimately did not succeed. For instance: "The team fought hard and was "almost victorious", but they lost in the final moments".

What is a good substitute for "almost victorious"?

Some suitable alternatives include "nearly triumphant", "close to victory", or "on the verge of winning". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "almost victory" instead of "almost victorious"?

No, "almost victory" is grammatically incorrect. "Victorious" is an adjective that modifies a subject, while "victory" is a noun. Therefore, the correct phrasing is "almost victorious" to describe the state of being near victory.

What's the difference between "almost victorious" and "narrowly defeated"?

"Almost victorious" emphasizes the closeness to winning, whereas "narrowly defeated" highlights the fact of having lost, albeit by a small margin. The choice depends on whether you want to focus on the potential win or the actual loss.