won top prize

USAGE SUMMARY

"won top prize" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used when describing someone or something that has won the highest or most prestigious award or recognition in a competition or event. Example: Julie worked tirelessly for months to perfect her performance and ultimately won top prize in the national singing competition.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

But it won top prize at Tribeca.

The Guardian

Recently it won top prize at the Great Taste Awards, which are judged blind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These figures attracted attention and in 1959 he won top prize for sculpture at the first Paris Biennale des Jeunes.

The Guardian - Arts

In 1989 the baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky won top prize, just beating out the bass-baritone Bryn Terfel.

The New York Times - Arts

"Buy It Now" won top prize in the foundation's student-film competition, and he took part in its residence program.

The New York Times

In 1955, aged 19, he was with them at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, where they won top prize.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

But the investigative work has also won top prizes, most notably for the China family wealth series in 2012.

The New York Times

Mr. Ioudenitch has won top prizes at several international competitions, including first prize at the 2000 New Orleans International Piano Competition.

The New York Times

In the 1990s and shortly afterward, when populist movies like "Forrest Gump" and "Gladiator" won top prizes, the Oscars telecast routinely delivered about 45 million total viewers.

The New York Times

"The Social Network" also won top prizes for its director, David Fincher, and its writer, Aaron Sorkin, making it the evening's big winner.

The New York Times

Many of our graduates won major prizes at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair and have also won top prizes in the Intel Competition.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "won top prize" to clearly and concisely indicate that someone or something has achieved the highest honor in a competition or event. Ensure the context makes it clear what the competition or event was.

Common error

Avoid using "won top prize" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Instead of saying "Top prize was won", specify who or what "won top prize".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won top prize" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful completion of an action: achieving the highest award or recognition in a competition or event. Ludwig AI indicates this is a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Science & Research

4%

Lifestyle

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "won top prize" is a commonly used and grammatically correct verb phrase indicating the achievement of the highest award in a competition or event. According to Ludwig AI, this is a valid and well-understood expression. Usage is mostly spotted across News & Media, Formal & Business and Wiki. Alternatives such as "secured first place" or "claimed the championship" can be used for variety. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies the competition or event, and avoid passive constructions to maintain clarity. This makes "won top prize" a reliable choice for communicating accomplishments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secured first place

Emphasizes the act of obtaining the highest position.

claimed the championship

Highlights the achievement of winning a major competition.

took home the gold

Uses a metaphor to describe winning the highest award.

emerged victorious

Focuses on the act of coming out as the winner.

carried off the award

Emphasizes the act of winning and receiving the award.

achieved victory

Highlights the accomplishment of winning.

triumphed

A concise way to express having won.

was the victor

Highlights the state of being the winner.

stood atop the podium

Describes the physical act of receiving the winner's award.

excelled and conquered

Emphasizes the exceptional performance and the ultimate win.

FAQs

How can I use "won top prize" in a sentence?

You can use "won top prize" to describe achievements. For example, "The film "won top prize" at the film festival", or "She "won top prize" for her innovative research."

What are some alternatives to saying "won top prize"?

Alternatives include "secured first place", "claimed the championship", or "took home the gold" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "win top prize" or "won top prize"?

"Won top prize" is the past tense and should be used when referring to a completed event. "Win top prize" is the infinitive form, suitable for hypothetical or future events. For example, "She hopes to "win top prize" next year."

What does it mean to have "won top prize"?

To have "won top prize" means that someone has achieved the highest award or recognition in a competition, contest, or other event. It signifies exceptional performance and success.