it won first place

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it won first place" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something, such as a competition entry or a participant, achieved the highest ranking in a contest or event. Example: "After a fierce competition, the team was thrilled to announce that it won first place in the science fair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Dr. Schwartz presented CityBeat for the first time publicly today in a live demonstration at the NYC Media Lab Annual Summit, where it won first place for best demo.

Cornell University

It won first place in the Alternative Tandem category in the 2010 Automotive X Prize, a competition created to foster the commercialization of efficient vehicles capable of more than 100 miles per gallon.

The New York Times

Last year it won first place in the BBC Food and Farming awards, in the face of stiff competition from well-established markets offering top-notch artisan food from local areas.

The Guardian

The restored guide boat, one of three still in existence with documentation showing Mr. Ricketson built it, won first place last week at the Antique Boat Museum's annual show in Clayton.

The New York Times

Just as lack of money started to become an issue, the new technology received a much-needed financial boost in spring 2011: It won first place and a $25,000 prize from the Keller Center Innovation Forum, in which University-based teams compete for funds to support their business plans for technologies they've developed.

Princeton University

At first, the new shop displayed a worrying disdain towards lyric poetry, but that was swiftly rectified and last month it won first place in the books, news and music category of London's Great Little Shops award, a category judged by Observer columnist Mariella Frostrup.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

It won second place — and investors.

Harvard University

This article was originally published in May June 1981, and it won second place in that year's McKinsey Awards.

Harvard Business Review

(Photo by TRANSLATE ABROAD .In March, Rogowski brought the team's mobile application to Yangzhou, China, where it won third place in the 2012 Made for China Competition, a contest for young entrepreneurs who are developing products and services for the Chinese market.

University of California, Berkeley

It won "second place flowers" in the People's Choice category.

Vice

He sent it around to agents and managers, who were encouraging, and it then won first place in 2008's Script Pipeline contest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it won first place" to clearly and directly state that something achieved the highest rank in a competition or contest.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses (e.g., "it wins first place" when referring to a past event) or mismatching subjects and verbs (e.g., "they won first place" when referring to singular subject).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it won first place" functions as a declarative statement indicating successful achievement in a competition or contest. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable structure. Examples show its use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

35%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it won first place" is a grammatically correct and straightforward way to declare a victory or top achievement. Ludwig AI indicates it's readily usable and appears across diverse source types. While frequently found in News & Media and Academia, its neutral register suits varied contexts. When crafting content, be mindful of tense consistency and avoid subject-verb disagreements. For formal papers, opting for alternatives such as "it was awarded first place" may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was awarded first place

This alternative highlights the act of receiving the award.

it came in first

A more informal way to express winning.

it achieved victory

This alternative uses a more formal and general term for winning.

it secured the top prize

Focuses on the reward aspect of winning.

it emerged as the champion

Implies a process of competition and eventual triumph.

it claimed the gold

Emphasizes the highest level of achievement, like in sports.

it took the lead and won

Describes the action of gaining the advantage and winning.

it was the victor

A more formal way to say it won.

it triumphed

A concise and emphatic way to express winning.

it finished ahead of everyone else

This phrase emphasizes the competitive aspect of winning.

FAQs

What does "it won first place" mean?

The phrase "it won first place" means that something achieved the highest ranking or position in a competition, contest, or event.

What can I say instead of "it won first place"?

You can use alternatives like "it was awarded first place", "it came in first", or "it achieved victory" depending on the context.

Is "it won first place" formal or informal?

The phrase "it won first place" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How to use "it won first place" in a sentence?

You can use "it won first place" to indicate that something achieved the highest ranking in a competition or contest. For example, "The team was thrilled to announce that "it won first place" in the science fair".