won 1st prize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "won 1st prize" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who has achieved the top position in a competition or contest. Example: "After months of preparation, she finally won 1st prize in the science fair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Film Festival last fall; "Guns of the Trees", 1961, which won 1st prize at the Int'l Free Cinema Festival at Porretta Terme, Italy; & "The Brig", 1964, based on the Living Theatre production indicting Marine brutality.

The New Yorker

He was trained as a classical pianist from the age of 7, & heard his 1st jazz record at the age of 16, when he was competing in the international-music-festival contest in Geneva & won 1st prize.

The New Yorker

They won 1st prize at the Third Tokyo Music.

The New Yorker

The Three Degrees won 1st prize at the Third Tokyo Music Festival in the summer of 1973.

The New Yorker

This week, start up SquareLoop won 1st prize at CTIA for its geocasting technology beating out Lucent-Alcatel's GMS.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

At the age of 16, she won 1st prize-a month's trip to Honolulu-in a California high-school oratorial contest.

The New Yorker

news: Our team won 3rd prize overall in the BioMod 2011 international competition!

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In 1989, he won 2nd prize as a pianist in the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

The New Yorker

His first collection, Waiting for Saint Brendan and Other Poems (Salmon, 2012), won 2nd prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Awards.

Johns Hopkins University

Louis Schwizgebel became internationally known to a wide audience in 2012 when he won 2nd prize at the Leeds International Piano Competition.

BBC

Chelsea won £47.3m prize money by winning the Champions League in May, almost £20m more than Manchester United, who failed to reach the last 16.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about achievements, consider using synonyms for "prize", such as "award", "honor", or "accolade", to add variety to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "won 1st prize" in highly formal or academic writing where more sophisticated vocabulary might be expected. Instead, opt for terms like "secured first place" or "achieved top ranking".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won 1st prize" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful achievement of the top award in a competition or contest. This is supported by Ludwig's examples showcasing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "won 1st prize" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to express that someone has achieved the top position in a competition. While Ludwig AI deems the phrase correct, it's more common in news, media, and academic contexts. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "secured first place". Remember to tailor your language to the context, choosing vocabulary that aligns with the intended level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured first place

Replaces the verb "won" with "secured" and uses "place" instead of "prize", implying a successful attainment of the top position.

took first honors

Substitutes "won" with "took" and "prize" with "honors", suggesting recognition of achievement.

achieved top ranking

Emphasizes the ranking aspect of winning, using "achieved" to highlight the effort involved.

emerged victorious

Replaces the entire phrase with a more general expression of winning, focusing on the victory itself.

clinched the top spot

Uses "clinched" to convey a sense of securing the victory, and "spot" instead of "prize".

captured the gold

Employs a metaphorical expression using "gold" to represent the first prize, implying excellence and achievement.

triumphed in the competition

Replaces the specific mention of the prize with a broader reference to triumphing in the competition.

attained the highest distinction

Focuses on the distinction aspect of winning, highlighting the prestige associated with the achievement.

earned the premier award

Uses "earned" to emphasize the effort involved in winning and replaces "prize" with "award".

excelled to victory

Highlights the excellence required to achieve victory, focusing on the superior performance that led to the win.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to say "won 1st prize"?

You can use alternatives like "secured first place", "took first honors", or "achieved top ranking" depending on the context.

Is "won 1st prize" grammatically correct?

Yes, "won 1st prize" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It clearly conveys the meaning of achieving the top position in a competition or contest.

What's the difference between "won 1st prize" and "won the grand prize"?

"Won 1st prize" indicates that someone achieved the top position in a competition, while "won the grand prize" implies that they won the most significant prize offered, which may or may not be associated with first place.

How can I use "won 1st prize" in a sentence?

You can use "won 1st prize" in a sentence like: "After months of hard work, she finally "won 1st prize" at the science fair." or "The team "won 1st prize" for their innovative design project."