won

USAGE SUMMARY

The word “won” is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb meaning to have been successful in a competition or fight, or to have achieved something after a struggle. For example, “She won the grand prize at the competition.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And they won.

The New York Times - Arts

"We won".

The New York Times - Sports

Justin Henry was eight when he was nominated for the 1979 film Kramer vs Kramer, and Anna Paquin won one for The Piano when she too was 11.

The Guardian - Film

Hilary Swank, who has already won a Golden Globe for her role in Boys Don't Cry, is one of the favourites for the best actress Oscar, a category that sees Meryl Streep win a record 12th nomination for Music of the Heart.

The Guardian - Film

"But when you get a load of Oscar nominations, and you look down the list of great directors who have won in the past, it's really humbling.

The Guardian - Film

Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother is the favourite for best foreign film, having cleaned up on the festival circuit and won a Golden Globe to boot.

The Guardian - Film

"And he won.

The New York Times

The way I figure it, the one terrorist in England with a sense of humor, a man known as Khalid the Droll, had said to the cell, 'I bet I can get them all to take off their shoes in airports.' So this prankster set up poor impressionable Reid and won his bet.

The Economist

Dressed in a black lace Armani Prive gown which had fashion writers salivating, Blanchett admitted to having "downed a few vodkas" while waiting to hear if she had won her third Golden Globe.

The Guardian - Film

In 2002 Art Solidari won a €15,000 prize from the city council and that allowed Blasco and López to employ a part-time co-ordinator, the NGO's only paid employee, to recruit and manage the volunteers and the workshops they run.

The Guardian

"They distribute it in proportion to the number of seats the party won at the last election.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "won" to clearly indicate past success or achievement. Ensure the context provides clarity on what was "won", such as a game, competition, or argument.

Common error

Avoid using "win" when referring to a past event. Always use "won" to correctly indicate the past tense.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "won" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "win". Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in expressing completed actions of achieving victory or success.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Film

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "won" is the past tense of the verb "win" and is used to indicate that someone or something has achieved success in the past. According to Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and it is very commonly used, primarily in news, sports, and film contexts. It is important to use "won" to indicate the past tense correctly and avoid using "win" when referring to something that has already occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status, making it a reliable choice for expressing past victories or achievements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved victory

Emphasizes the accomplishment of winning.

secured a win

Highlights the act of obtaining a victory.

emerged victorious

Focuses on the outcome of being the victor.

came out on top

An idiomatic way to say someone was successful.

prevailed

Suggests overcoming challenges to win.

carried the day

Implies significant success or influence.

triumphed

A more emphatic way of saying "won".

clinched the title

Specifically refers to winning a championship.

attained success

Focuses on achieving a successful outcome.

beat the competition

Highlights the act of winning against competitors.

FAQs

How is "won" used in a sentence?

"Won" is the past tense of "win" and indicates that someone or something has been successful in the past. For example, "The team "won" the championship last year".

What can I say instead of "won"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "achieved victory", "prevailed", or "emerged victorious".

Which is correct, "win" or "won" in past tense?

"Won" is the correct form to use when referring to a past event or accomplishment. "Win" is used for present or future events.

What is the difference between "won" and "winning"?

"Won" is the simple past tense and past participle of "win", while "winning" is the present participle and gerund. For example, "She "won" the race" (past), and "She is "winning" the race" (present continuous).