intransitive verb won, winning win′·ning

1. 1. to gain a victory; be victorious; triumph: sometimes with out
   2. to finish in first place in a race, contest, etc.
2. to succeed in reaching or achieving a specified condition or place; get: with various prepositions, adverbs, or adjectives to win back to health

Etymology: ME winnen < OE winnan, to fight, endure, struggle, akin to Ger winnen, to struggle, contend < IE base *wen-, to desire, strive for > wish, L venus, love

transitive verb

1. to get by effort, labor, struggle, etc.; specif.,
   1. to gain or acquire through accomplishment to win distinctions
   2. to achieve or attain (one's point, demands, etc.)
   3. to gain (a prize or award) in competition
   4. to obtain or earn (a livelihood, security, etc.)
2. to be successful or victorious in (a contest, game, dispute, etc.)
3. to get to, usually with effort; reach they won the top of the hill by noon
4. to prevail upon; influence; persuade: often with over to win someone over to one's side
5. 1. to gain the sympathy, favor, affection, or love of to win a supporter, friend, etc.
   2. to gain (someone's sympathy, affection, love, etc.)
6. to persuade to marry one
7. 1. to extract (metal, minerals, etc.) from ore
   2. to obtain (coal, ore, etc.) by mining
   3. to prepare (a vein, shaft, etc.) for mining

noun

1. an act of winning; victory, as in a contest
2. first position at the finish of a race