score a victory

USAGE SUMMARY

"score a victory" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to win or achieve a victory. You can use it in situations where someone or a team has achieved success in a competition or conflict, such as a sports game, debate, or election. Here is an example: "After a tense and competitive match, the home team managed to score a victory over their rivals, securing their place in the playoffs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

But in 2015, Langbords appeared to score a victory.

The Washington Post

The details can vary about how you score a victory.

The New York Times

All analyses show that Mr. Kostunica would score a victory even greater than the one before.

The New York Times

Mr. Grassley did score a victory on a minor tweak to the bill.

The New York Times

Common sense and local standards, it seems, do occasionally score a victory, but Ms. West will have none of it.

The New York Times - Books

Enough time to scare the average consumer into silence and score a victory for a business intent on controlling its image.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Russell Simmons just scored a victory on Capitol Hill.

The Washington Post

It isn't often that common sense scores a victory.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because the arrangement capitalized on the brothers' different preferences, it would leave each side feeling they had scored a victory.

Harvard University

But it looks as if the Obama administration is scoring a victory in Libya.

The New York Times

Mullen Advertising Inc., Wenham, Mass., scored a victory and a loss yesterday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with the preposition 'over' or 'against' when mentioning the opponent to clearly define the nature of the win.

Common error

Do not use "score a victory" for everyday, non-competitive achievements where no opposition was present. For instance, you should say you 'finished a task' rather than 'scored a victory' over a mundane to-do list, as the latter can sound overly dramatic or misplaced.

Linguistic Context

As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, the phrase "score a victory" functions as a transitive verb phrase where 'score' acts as the verb and 'a victory' serves as the direct object. It is used to denote the achievement of success in a competitive or antagonistic scenario.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

1%

Social Media

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "score a victory" is a robust and highly versatile expression used to describe success in various competitive arenas, from sports and politics to law and business. According to Ludwig AI, it is consistently used by the world's most prestigious publications, reflecting a Neutral to Professional register. While it is synonymous with 'winning', it carries a more active and strategic connotation, often highlighting the effort or the specific contest involved. Writers should feel confident using it in formal reports or journalistic pieces, though they should be careful not to overuse it for trivial or non-competitive achievements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secure a win

Implies a sense of finality and certainty in the outcome.

clinch a victory

Suggests winning in a decisive or final way, often at the end of a struggle.

claim victory

Focuses on the public assertion or declaration of having won.

notch a win

More informal and common in sports reporting or tallying successes.

emerge victorious

A more descriptive and slightly more literary way to describe the winner.

prevail

A concise, single-word alternative that emphasizes overcoming opposition.

achieve a triumph

Elevates the formality and suggests a much larger or more significant success.

attain success

Very formal and broad, applicable to goals beyond competitive contests.

carry the day

An idiomatic expression often used in debates or specific battles.

gain an advantage

Softer than a total victory, suggesting progress rather than a final win.

FAQs

How to use "score a victory" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe winning a contest or overcoming a challenge. For example: "The environmental group managed to <a href="/s/secure+a+win" target="_blank" rel="alternative">secure a win in court, effectively helping them "score a victory" for local conservation efforts."

What can I say instead of "score a victory"?

Depending on the desired tone, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/claim+victory" target="_blank" rel="alternative">claim victory", "<a href="/s/prevail" target="_blank" rel="alternative">prevail", or "<a href="/s/achieve+a+triumph" target="_blank" rel="alternative">achieve a triumph".

Is "score a victory" formal enough for business?

Yes, it is widely used in professional settings. As seen in examples from the Harvard Business Review, it is a standard way to describe market successes or strategic gains over competitors.

Which is more common: "score a victory" or "win a victory"?

While both are correct, "score a victory" is often preferred in journalistic writing because it sounds more active. However, if you want a simpler alternative, "<a href="/s/win+a+battle" target="_blank" rel="alternative">win a battle" or simply 'win' might be more direct.