win

present singular third person wins · participle present winning · past won · obsolete past wan · participle past won · first person past singular won · archaic present second person singular winnest · past second person singular won · archaic past second person singular wonnest · present singular third person wins · archaic present singular third person winneth · past singular third person won · past plural won · past subjunctive won · participle present winning · participle past won

1. obsoletetransitiveTo conquer, defeat.

   For the glory, the power to win the Black Lord, I will search for the Emerald Sword.

   1998, Rhapsody, Emerald Sword

   1 more example

   For and we doo bataille we two wyl fyghte with one knyȝt at ones and therfore yf ye wille fyghte ſoo we wille be redy at what houre ye wille aſſigne And yf ye wynne vs in bataille the lady ſhal haue her landes ageyne ye ſay wel ſayd ſir Vwayne therfor make yow redy ſo that ye be here to morne in the defence of the ladyes ryght

   1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book IV

2. intransitivetransitiveTo reach some destination or object, despite difficulty or toil (now usually intransitive, with preposition or locative adverb).

   I well may gang out, love, but I'll never win home.

   c. 17th century, unknown author, The Baron of Brackley (traditional folk song)

   5 more examples

   No sooner did I get my freedom than my footsteps began to be dogged by the spies of the Iron Heel. It was necessary that they should be thrown off the track, and that I should win to California.

   1908, Jack London, The Iron Heel

   As this position was vulnerable, a trench was immediately begun from the junction of the Green Line with Lager Alley, back to the old British front line, in order to form a defensive flank for the protection of the troops of the 5th Infantry Brigade who had won through to their objective.

   1922, Everard Wyrall, The History of the Second Division 1914-1918

   Parson Brooke was transferred in a couple of years to the Southwark mint, on dissolution of which he won back to the Tower, there to experiment with machinery in Mary's reign.

   1953, John Craig, The Mint: A History of the London Mint from A.D. 287 to 1948

   That euen in the Porch he him did win, And cleft his head aſunder to his chin

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 23

   And when the stony path began, By which the naked peak they won, Up flew the snowy ptarmigan.

   1808 February 22, Walter Scott, “(please specify the introduction or canto number, or chapter name)”, in Marmion; a Tale of Flodden Field, Edinburgh: […] J[ames] Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company, […]; London: William Miller, and John Murray, →OCLC

3. transitiveTo triumph or achieve victory in (a game, a war, etc.).
4. transitiveTo gain (a prize) by succeeding in competition or contest.

   to win the jackpot in a lottery;  to win a bottle of wine in a raffle

5. transitiveTo obtain (someone) by wooing; to make an ally or friend of (frequently with over).

   She is a woman; therefore to be won.

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]

   2 more examples

   Thy virtue won me; with virtue preserve me.

   The New Arcadia

   a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC

   Mr. Weston seems an excellent creature—quite a first-rate favourite with me already, I assure you. And she appears so truly good—there is something so motherly and kind-hearted about her, that it wins upon one directly.

   1815, Jane Austen, Emma, volume II, chapter 14

6. intransitiveTo achieve victory.

   Nah, I'd win.

   1 more example

   Who would win in a fight between an octopus and a dolphin?

7. intransitiveTo have power, coercion or control.

   Ever since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, Bostonians now run as "One Boston." The terrorists did not win.

8. transitiveTo obtain (something desired).

   The company hopes to win an order from the government worth over 5 million dollars.

9. transitiveTo cause a victory for someone.

   The policy success should win the elections for Mr. Smith.

   1 more example

   The success of the economic policies should win Mr. Smith the next elections.

10. transitivebusinessTo extract (ore, coal, etc.).
11. informaltransitiveTo defeat or surpass someone or something.
12. informalintransitivecomputingTo take priority.

    If the local filters conflict with the global filters, the global filters always win.

plural wins

1. An individual victory.

   Our first win of the season put us in high spirits.

   1 more example

   Giovani dos Santos smashed home a third five minutes later to wrap up the win.

   2011 September 29, Jon Smith, “Tottenham 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers”, in BBC Sport

   Antonyms: loss

2. slangA feat carried out successfully; a victorious achievement.

   Antonyms: fail

3. obsoleteGain; profit; income.
4. obsoleteWealth; goods owned.

1. ScotlandPleasure; joy; delight.
2. alternativeAlternative form of wynn.

1. ScotlandtransitiveTo dry by exposure to the wind.

plural Wins

1. colloquialA Winchester firearm.

   Pre-64 Win has a heritage that can't be beat. For me, it's Rems for prarie dogs and paper, Wins (or 1917 Enfields) for stuff that wants to stomp you into a greasy spot on the tundra.

   1997 December 23, Marcus [username], “Re: New Pre '64 or 700 action?”, in rec.guns (Usenet)

1. computingWindows, an operating system family developed by Microsoft.
2. abbreviationbroadlyclippingcomputingClipping of Windows key.

1. A diminutive of the female given name Winifred.

1. A diminutive of the male given name Winston.

   Winston Piper didn't look right to her in what she thought of as Flaherty's office. […] “My friends call me Win,” he said. “No need for formality.” ¶ “Sure, Win.” He's hinting.

   1994, Robert B. Parker, All Our Yesterdays, Dell Publishing, →ISBN, page 449

plural Wins

1. A surname.

1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of whip inflation now: a 1974 US political slogan.