win a contract

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "win a contract" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a situation in which someone succeeds in gaining a business agreement or formal agreement from another party. For example: "After a long negotiation process, the company was delighted to win the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Is helping a pal win a contract just being friendly?

The Guardian

Mr. Morgan was fortunate to win a contract from another top Napa vineyard.

The New York Times - Food

That contract helped AMI win a contract with CA Inc., formerly Computer Associates.

The New York Times

He pursued Archie for about 18 months to win a contract to license the company's entire family of characters.

The New York Times

As a local councillor she had helped the teenager, Kirk McCambley, win a contract to run a café.

The Economist

Unless JR Central can win a contract, the maglev, for now, could stay nothing more than a novelty.

The New York Times

Mr Saburi hints that the Russians, who hoped to win a contract to complete a second (half-built) reactor on the same site, may be disappointed.

The Economist

In February, City Councilman Larry B. Seabrook was charged, among things, with helping a close associate win a contract to install boilers at Yankee Stadium.

The New York Times

They also entered a contest to win a contract with the German company Hansa-Ariola; they came second to The Cure, but got a deal anyway.

Independent

A few years ago BP made public how much it paid Angola's government for a "signature fee" to win a contract to extract offshore oil.

The Economist

The UK publishing house, Macmillan, was one of them - debarred for six years after admitting it had paid bribes to win a contract in southern Sudan.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger verbs like 'secure' or 'land' for a more impactful statement, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Common error

The phrase "win a contract" implies a competitive process to obtain the contract. Avoid using it simply as a synonym for "have a contract" if there was no competition involved. For example, you wouldn't say a sole supplier "won" a contract unless other suppliers were considered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "win a contract" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful acquisition of a formal agreement. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English, as exemplified by numerous sentences across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "win a contract" is a commonly used and grammatically sound verb phrase that describes the successful attainment of a formal agreement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently found in news and business contexts, emphasizing the competitive nature of securing such agreements. While alternatives like ""secure a contract"" or "obtain a contract" exist, "win a contract" specifically implies that the agreement was reached through a process where competition was involved. Remember to reserve this phrase for instances when the contract acquisition truly involved winning against other possible counterparties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secure a contract

Focuses on the act of making a contract certain or safe, highlighting the attainment's security.

obtain a contract

Emphasizes the action of gaining possession of a contract, indicating a successful acquisition.

land a contract

Uses the metaphor of 'landing' to suggest successfully achieving or getting a contract, making it more vivid.

be awarded a contract

Highlights the act of being formally given a contract, shifting the focus to the awarding entity.

procure a contract

Emphasizes the effort and process involved in acquiring a contract, suggesting a more formal approach.

seal a contract

Stresses the finalization and agreement aspect of obtaining a contract, indicating a conclusive achievement.

close a contract

Focuses on completing all necessary actions to finalize and obtain a contract, emphasizing the closure of a deal.

negotiate a contract

Highlights the process of discussion and agreement to reach a contract, focusing on the negotiation aspect.

finalize a contract

Focuses on the completion and arrangement of all contract details, stressing readiness and completion.

tender for a contract

Emphasizes the action of submitting a formal offer to secure a contract, shifting the focus to the bidding process.

FAQs

How can I use "win a contract" in a sentence?

You can use "win a contract" to describe the act of successfully securing a business agreement or formal arrangement. For example: "The company worked hard to "secure a contract" with the government."

What can I say instead of "win a contract"?

You can use alternatives like ""secure a contract"", "obtain a contract", or "land a contract" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "win a contract" or "won a contract"?

"Win a contract" is the infinitive form, used in sentences expressing intention or possibility. "Won a contract" is the past tense, used to describe a completed action. For example, "They hope to win a contract" versus "They won a contract last year".

What's the difference between "win a contract" and "be awarded a contract"?

"Win a contract" emphasizes the effort and competition involved in securing the agreement. "Be awarded a contract" focuses on the formal act of being granted the contract by the awarding entity.