won victory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "won victory" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts where you want to emphasize the act of achieving a victory, but it is more natural to use simpler expressions. Example: "The team won victory in the championship game, securing their place in history."

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Although Russia won, victory was messier and harder than it should have been.

The Economist

Their campaign for a $15-an-hour 15-an-hour 15-an-hourvictory after victory.

The Guardian - Opinion

During the first year of the undeclared war, Japan won victory after victory against sometimes stubborn Chinese resistance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Since he was still occupied in Egypt, he assigned this operation to Galerius, who, after a protracted campaign, finally won victory for the Romans.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Supporters of same-sex marriage have won victory after victory this spring, with the legislatures of Vermont, New Hampshire and now Maine embracing it.

The New York Times

And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won victory in the California's recall election this fall partly by suggesting that he would not raise taxes to close a yawning budget gap.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"The victories that Lyndon Johnson won for civil rights began even before his Presidency — in 1957 — and the victory he won in that year was perhaps the hardest-won victory of all".

The New Yorker

Coupled with Georgia's hard-won victory over South Carolina on Saturday, the Trojans established themselves as the best team in the country and the favorites to win the national title.

The New York Times - Sports

The nursing school was a hard-won victory.

The New York Times

It was a hard-won victory and already short-lived.

The Guardian - Opinion

Speaking at the New York Film Festival in 1975, Mr. May celebrated a hard-won victory.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid redundancy, consider using just the verb "won" followed by what was won (e.g. "won the championship") or using just the noun "victory" with a different verb (e.g. "achieved victory").

Common error

The phrase "won victory" can sometimes be seen as redundant because the verb "win" inherently implies achieving a victory. To avoid this, ensure that the context requires emphasis on both the action of winning and the state of victory, or simply use a more concise expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "won victory" functions as a declarative statement indicating the successful attainment of a victory. Ludwig indicates that while the phrase is used, simpler alternatives might be preferred for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Encyclopedias

29%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "won victory" is used to express the attainment of a win, although simpler alternatives might be preferable in many contexts. Ludwig suggests that while grammatically acceptable, the phrase can sometimes be perceived as redundant. News and encyclopedias are its primary contexts, signaling neutral register. Consider alternatives like "achieved triumph" or simply "won the championship" for clearer and more impactful writing. Source quality is solid, although aiming for concision will often enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

achieved triumph

Replaces "victory" with "triumph", implying a more significant or celebrated win.

secured a win

Uses a more common and less formal phrasing to indicate a successful outcome.

attained success

Substitutes "victory" with the broader term "success", focusing on the positive result.

prevailed in the end

Emphasizes overcoming challenges to achieve a positive outcome.

emerged victorious

Highlights the act of coming out as the winner after a struggle.

clinched the victory

Suggests a decisive action that secured the win.

seized the triumph

Emphasizes taking hold of a great success or victory.

carried the day

An idiomatic expression for winning, often used in historical or narrative contexts.

dominated the competition

Focuses on the comprehensive nature of the win, showing strong control.

conquered all

Suggests a complete and comprehensive victory over all obstacles or opponents.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "won victory"?

While technically correct, "won victory" can sometimes sound redundant. Consider using alternatives like "achieved victory" or simply saying "won" followed by what was won, for example, "won the championship".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "won victory"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases such as "secured a win", "achieved triumph", or "emerged victorious". These alternatives can add nuance and avoid potential redundancy.

How can I make my writing sound more impactful when describing a victory?

Instead of "won victory", consider using stronger verbs like "secured" or "clinched" with the word victory. For instance, "The team clinched the victory" sounds more decisive than "The team won victory".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "won victory"?

The phrase "won victory" is appropriate when you want to emphasize both the act of winning and the resulting state of victory. However, in many cases, using just "won" followed by what was won is more concise and equally effective. For example: "The army "won the battle"".