enemy won

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "enemy won" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing competition, conflict, or games where one side has achieved victory over the other. Example: "In the final moments of the match, it became clear that the enemy won, leaving our team to regroup for the next challenge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

And the enemy won".

The New York Times - Sports

Maybe, even now, capitulating to that feels too much like the enemy won.

The Guardian - Opinion

When Moses lowered his hands, the enemy won.

Huffington Post

But because the enemy of American democracy lay inside our borders rather than out, no war was waged and the enemy won.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He vowed, "If the enemy wins, we will burn everything".

The New Yorker

Last night's Pulitzer award ceremony also saw Alan Taylor's look at slavery and war in Virginia in the late 18th and early 19th century, The Internal Enemy, win the history award, Megan Marshall's take on the life of Margaret Fuller win the biography award and Dan Fagin's Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation take the general non-fiction gong.

The Guardian - Books

We see General Jackson in all his glory -- as he marches, countermarches, confuses the enemy, wins against all odds, secures his place in history and legend, and finally, in his famous dying words, crosses "over the river" to "rest under the shade of the trees".

The New York Times - Books

If the enemy wins, what happens next?

WikiHow

These are the things people tend to say when their ideological enemies win.

The New York Times

"I told them, if you don't send your daughters to school, then the enemy wins," Qadari told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I told them, if you don't send your daughters to school, then the enemy wins," Mr. Qadari said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enemy won" to succinctly convey the outcome of a conflict or competition where the opposing side was victorious. Ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "enemy won" when describing situations where the opposing side's success was due to external factors or internal failures rather than direct competition. In such cases, it's better to use phrases like "we were defeated" or "we failed" to provide a more accurate representation of the cause of the loss.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enemy won" functions as a concise statement indicating the outcome of a contest or conflict. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and commonly used to express defeat. The phrase serves to declare the victory of an opposing force.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enemy won" is a grammatically correct and succinct way to express the outcome of a conflict or competition where the opposing side was victorious. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English and found across reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While its frequency is relatively rare, it provides a direct and clear statement of defeat, suitable for various contexts. To avoid ambiguity or overly dramatic tones, consider more neutral alternatives such as "the adversary triumphed" in formal settings, but when a direct statement is needed, "enemy won" serves its purpose effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the adversary triumphed

Replaces "enemy" with "adversary" and "won" with "triumphed", offering a more formal tone.

the opposition prevailed

Substitutes "enemy" with "opposition" and "won" with "prevailed", indicating a more sustained victory.

our foes were victorious

Uses "foes" instead of "enemy" and "were victorious" in place of "won", creating a slightly more dramatic effect.

the other side was the victor

Rephrases the sentence to emphasize that the opposing side achieved victory.

the opposing force gained victory

Emphasizes that the "opposing force" actively 'gained' victory, shifting focus from passive winning to active gaining.

we were defeated by the enemy

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the defeat of 'us' instead of the success of "enemy won".

the competition ended in the enemy's favor

This emphasizes the competition and the outcome being favorable to the opposing side.

the opposing team came out on top

More colloquial, implying victory in a competitive setting.

the battle was won by our rival

Highlights a battle scenario where the "rival" secured victory.

the opposing camp secured the win

This emphasizes not just winning, but securing it.

FAQs

How can I use "enemy won" in a sentence?

The phrase "enemy won" can be used to express the outcome of a competition or conflict, implying that the opposing side was victorious. For example: "Despite our best efforts, the "enemy won" the final battle."

What are some alternatives to saying "enemy won"?

You can use alternatives such as "the adversary triumphed", "the opposition prevailed", or "our foes were victorious" to express a similar meaning with slightly different connotations.

Is it appropriate to use "enemy won" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "enemy won" might sound somewhat informal or dramatic for certain formal contexts. Consider using more neutral phrases like "the opponent was victorious" or "the other side prevailed" in professional or academic settings.

What does it imply when someone says "enemy won"?

The phrase generally implies that there was a direct conflict or competition, and the opposing side achieved victory. It can also carry a sense of disappointment or frustration, depending on the context and speaker's feelings about the loss.