narrow win

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrow win" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a victory achieved by a small margin. For example, "The team secured a narrow win in the final minutes of the game." Alternative expressions include "slim victory" and "close win."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This advantage allowed them to escape with a narrow win.

The New York Times - Sports

He managed another narrow win over Dai on Friday night.

The Guardian - Sport

Their votes were crucial in giving Mr Morsi his eventual narrow win.

The Economist

After Kennedy's narrow win, Eisenhower offered tone-deaf consolation to Nixon and Pat.

The New Yorker

That also happened … so we knew what to do and got a narrow win".

The Guardian - Sport

The likely result was – had to be – a narrow win for remain.

The Guardian

Earlier, BBC1 scored with England's narrow win over Italy in the Six Nations rugby union.

The Guardian

After an embarrassing defeat to Ireland, they squeaked a narrow win against the West Indies to reach the quarter-finals.

The Economist

For the Liberal Democrats, the narrow win in Eastleigh was tinged with its own element of foreboding.

The New York Times

Investec Loyal's narrow win capped an exhilarating final 24 hours in which the lead changed hands three times.

The New York Times - Sports

His narrow win indicated the French remain divided over how best to tackle the enormous economic challenges facing the country.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "narrow win", provide specific details about the context and the factors that contributed to the close outcome. This adds depth and interest to your writing.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the importance of a "narrow win". While every victory is meaningful, framing a close win as a dominating triumph can diminish your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrow win" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "narrow" modifies the noun "win". According to Ludwig AI, this construction is commonly used to describe a victory achieved by a small margin, indicating a close contest. This usage is consistent across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrow win" is a frequently used and grammatically sound phrase that describes a victory achieved by a small margin. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use, particularly within news and media contexts. When using "narrow win", remember to provide relevant details about the context and avoid exaggerating its significance. Alternatives like "close victory" or "slim victory" can be used to add variety to your writing. The phrase's neutral register makes it appropriate for diverse audiences, making it a valuable addition to your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

close victory

Emphasizes the closeness of the victory, focusing on the small difference in the outcome.

slim victory

Highlights the small margin of victory, suggesting it was achieved by a slight advantage.

hard-fought win

Indicates that the win required significant effort and struggle.

tight victory

Stresses the competition's intensity and the small difference that determined the outcome.

marginal win

Focuses on the smallness of the winning margin, implying it could have easily gone the other way.

squeaked out a win

Conveys that the victory was barely achieved, possibly unexpectedly.

photo finish

Implies that the result was so close that a photograph was needed to determine the winner.

hairbreadth victory

Highlights the extremely small margin, suggesting a very close call.

paper-thin victory

Emphasizes how delicate or fragile the victory was.

come-from-behind win

Describes a win achieved after being behind, often by a small margin near the end.

FAQs

What does "narrow win" mean?

A "narrow win" refers to a victory achieved by a small margin or difference. It indicates that the competition was close and the outcome could have easily been different.

What can I say instead of "narrow win"?

You can use alternatives like "close victory", "slim victory", or "hard-fought win" depending on the specific context.

How is a "narrow win" different from a decisive victory?

A "narrow win" implies a close contest with a small margin of victory, while a decisive victory indicates a clear and substantial advantage over the opponent.

Is it correct to say "narrow victory" instead of "narrow win"?

Yes, "narrow victory" is a perfectly acceptable and synonymous alternative to "narrow win". Both phrases are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning.