they won first place

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "they won first place" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you can use it in a sentence like this: "My friends and I spent months preparing for the competition, and when the results were announced, I was overjoyed to hear that they won first place."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They won first place and landed a contract with R.C.A., but most important, put their brand of sacred music before a national audience for the first time.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are now partners in Lymphedivas, which was officially born in 2006 after they won third place in a business plan contest sponsored by Drexel University.

The New York Times

They entered and won first place.

Huffington Post

"When they called that I had won first place, man, my stomach just dropped".

Vice

(They did. Ms. Klabin won second place and, in the children's category, Janine won first place).

The New York Times

Christine Domanic's Wiener Bench won first place.

The New York Times

I won first place AND got five books!

The Guardian

(Mr. Osmond won first place, while Ms. Osmond came in third).

The New York Times

Kololyan won first place in the men's longboard division, with Reinhardt taking second.

The New York Times - Sports

Fausto Podavini won first place, daily life stories, for an essay on Alzheimer's disease.

The New York Times

When "Shark" won first place in the news feature category, he heard the news on Facebook.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a competition, use "they won first place" to clearly and directly convey the outcome. This phrase leaves no ambiguity about the result.

Common error

Avoid using phrases that imply success but do not explicitly state a first-place victory. For example, "they did well" is vague; "they won first place" is precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they won first place" functions as a declarative statement indicating the outcome of a competition, contest, or other form of ranking. It expresses a clear and unambiguous result, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they won first place" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe achieving the top position in a competition or contest. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media, scientific publications, and wiki articles. While there are many alternative phrases, using "they won first place" offers a direct and unambiguous way to convey the information. When writing, ensure you're specifically highlighting a first-place victory to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they secured the top spot

Replaces "won first place" with a more formal expression indicating the achievement of the highest ranking.

they emerged victorious

Emphasizes the act of winning after a struggle or competition.

they triumphed

A more concise and emphatic way of saying they were successful and won.

they clinched the victory

Highlights the decisiveness of their win.

they took the gold

An informal expression implying they won first place, often used in sports contexts.

they finished in first position

A more descriptive way of saying they obtained the highest rank.

they were the champions

A broader term emphasizing their overall victory.

they topped the leaderboard

Indicates they achieved the highest score or ranking compared to others.

they proved to be the best

Highlights that their winning was a demonstration of superior ability.

they carried off the first prize

Uses a more archaic or formal tone to denote winning the top award.

FAQs

How can I use "they won first place" in a sentence?

You can use "they won first place" to describe the outcome of a competition or contest. For example, "After months of hard work, "they won first place" in the national debate tournament".

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

You can use alternatives like "they secured the top spot", "they emerged victorious", or "they triumphed", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "they won first place" or "they won the first place"?

"They won first place" is the correct and more common usage. "They won the first place" is less idiomatic and may sound awkward to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "they won first place" and "they placed first"?

"They won first place" emphasizes the act of winning, while "they placed first" emphasizes their final position in the competition. Both are generally interchangeable, but the former is slightly more emphatic.