should have won

USAGE SUMMARY

"should have won" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express regret or dissatisfaction about something that has already happened. For example: "I can't believe I didn't win the award. I should have won."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Should have won tonight?

The New York Times

"We should have won.

The New York Times - Sports

It should have won.

The New Yorker

"We should have won today.

The New York Times - Sports

Gonzalez should have won.

The New York Times - Sports

He should have won.

The New York Times - Books

She should have won.

The Guardian - Sport

I should have won.

The Guardian - Sport

These games, we should have won".

The New York Times - Sports

We should have won the other games.

The New York Times - Sports

"Blockbuster should have won — and didn't.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have won" to express a strong opinion about a past event. Be mindful of your audience, as this phrasing can come across as critical or assertive.

Common error

Avoid using "should have won" without providing a clear rationale. Simply stating it without supporting evidence weakens your argument and appears subjective. Explain why you believe the different outcome was warranted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have won" functions as a modal phrase expressing counterfactual possibility or regret about a past event. It suggests that, based on certain circumstances or expectations, the outcome should have been different. Ludwig shows numerous examples of this usage in sports and other competitive contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "should have won" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express regret or the belief that a different outcome was deserved. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is most frequently found in news and sports contexts, carrying a neutral tone. When using the phrase, it's important to provide clear reasons or evidence to support the claim. Alternatives include "deserved to win" and "was the likely victor". Always ensure context supports the assertion for a more persuasive statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deserved to win

Emphasizes the deserving nature of winning, implying a sense of justice.

was the likely victor

Focuses on the probability of winning based on circumstances.

was poised to win

Suggests a strong position leading up to a potential win.

had victory within reach

Highlights the closeness to achieving a win, often implying a missed opportunity.

was robbed of a win

Implicates unfairness or external factors leading to a loss.

was on track to win

Focuses on the progress towards winning before an unforeseen change.

could have been the winner

Expresses the possibility of winning under different circumstances.

was destined for victory

Suggests a preordained or inevitable win that did not materialize.

missed out on winning

Highlights the act of missing an opportunity for winning.

was anticipated to win

Focuses on the expectation or anticipation of winning based on perceived performance.

FAQs

How do I use "should have won" in a sentence?

Use "should have won" to express that someone or something deserved to win but didn't, like in the sentence, "The underdog team played exceptionally well and "should have won" the championship."

What's a more formal alternative to "should have won"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "deserved victory" or "was the likely victor". For instance, instead of saying "The company "should have won" the contract", you could say "The company deserved victory in the contract bidding process".

What's the difference between "should have won" and "could have won"?

"Should have won" implies a sense of deserving or expectation based on performance, while "could have won" simply suggests possibility. "They "should have won"" means they deserved to, whereas "They "could have won"" means they had the potential to win.

When is it appropriate to use "should have won"?

It's appropriate to use "should have won" when you want to express a strong opinion about a past event where you believe the outcome was unfair or undeserved. Be prepared to support your claim with specific reasons or evidence.