won a competition

USAGE SUMMARY

"won a competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used whenever a person has succeeded in a competition or contest. For example: "Tom proudly announced that he had won a competition to travel to Antarctica the following year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A year later Dmitri won a competition that entitled him to an opera debut.

The Guardian - Books

Disney Animation has never won a competition Oscar.

The New York Times

Then, in 1952, she won a competition to join the Bolshoi in Moscow.

The New York Times - Arts

The firm had just won a competition to design the Seattle Public Library.

The New Yorker

Five years ago she won a competition for a new opera house in the Welsh capital.

The Economist

In November, Britain's Lord Foster won a competition to design a new $1.9 billion airport terminal.

The Economist

His plans are now complete for Zurich Schauspielhaus, for which he won a competition in 1965.

The Guardian - Arts

You won a competition of the children's television game show "Hole in the Wall" in 2011.

The New York Times

Last year he won a competition there sponsored by Ms. Horne's foundation.

The New York Times - Arts

He looked like he'd won a competition to play in a World Cup quarter-final.

The Guardian - Sport

She won a competition in a women's magazine for an essay on Jane Austen.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the competition, use specific details like the type of competition (e.g., design competition, singing competition) or the sponsoring organization to provide context.

Common error

Ensure the context makes it clear what type of competition was "won". Without sufficient detail, it may be unclear whether it was an athletic contest, academic challenge, or some other form of competition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won a competition" functions as a verb phrase indicating successful completion and victory in a competitive event. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's a commonly used phrase to describe achieving first place in a contest.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

17%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "won a competition" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to describe achieving victory in a contest. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and widespread usage. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it is suitable for a range of registers and can be effectively employed to convey someone's success. When using this phrase, ensure that the type of competition is clear and specific. For variety, alternatives like "triumphed in a contest" or "emerged victorious in a contest" can be used. Remember to give specific details about the contest to provide context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeeded in a competition

Emphasizes the successful completion of the competition.

was the victor in a competition

Changes the verb and uses "victor" to signify the winner.

gained victory in a competition

Uses a more formal noun to express the act of winning.

triumphed in a contest

Replaces "won" with a synonym that emphasizes overcoming challenges.

prevailed in a competition

Suggests a struggle or challenge was overcome to win.

emerged victorious in a contest

This alternative uses more formal language to convey the idea of winning.

secured first place in a contest

More specific, indicating the top position was achieved.

clinched the top spot in a contest

This alternative is suitable for sports and competitions.

came out on top in a competition

More colloquial, emphasizing the ultimate success.

was selected through a competition

Focuses on the selection process and the positive outcome.

FAQs

What does "won a competition" mean?

The phrase "won a competition" means that someone has achieved first place or has been declared the victor in a contest or competitive event.

How can I use "won a competition" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's achievement, for example: "She "won a competition" for her innovative design."

What are some alternatives to saying "won a competition"?

Alternatives include phrases like "triumphed in a contest", "emerged victorious in a contest", or "secured first place in a contest".

Is it better to say "won a competition" or "won at a competition"?

"Won a competition" is more common and natural. "Won at a competition" is grammatically correct, but it's less frequently used and can sound slightly awkward.