victoriously

IPA/vɪkˈtɔːriəsli/
IPA/vɪkˈtɔːriəsli/

victoriously — adverb

1. showing or expressing the joy and pride of having won a contest, conflict, or ot

1.adverbB2
Definition

showing or expressing the joy and pride of having won a contest, conflict, or other challenge

Example

After winning the tournament, Liang raised his racket victoriously and smiled at the crowd.

raise + victoriously — physical display after winning

The firefighters emerged victoriously from the burning building, carrying the rescued child.

emerge victoriously from [place] — triumph after danger

Synonyms
  • triumphantly

    very similar meaning; slightly more dramatic or emotional

  • winningly

    less common; can also mean 'in an appealing way' in other contexts

Antonyms
  • defeatedly

    showing the opposite emotion — despair after losing

Usage Note

Typically used with action verbs of movement (emerge, return, march) or expression (cheer, wave, shout, smile). Common in narrative and sports writing; less frequent in formal academic contexts.

Common Mistakes

She successfully passed the exam.
She passed the exam victoriously.
'successfully' only means the goal was achieved; 'victoriously' adds the sense of triumph and celebration after a hard-won win.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All three describe a positive outcome, but 'victoriously' and 'triumphantly' carry a strong emotional charge of celebration after a hard-fought win, while 'successfully' is neutral — it simply means the goal was met without implying the joy or drama of a victory. 'Triumphantly' is slightly more dramatic and formal, often used in grand contexts (military victories, major competitions), while 'victoriously' is more versatile across everyday and sporting contexts. 'Winningly' is far less common and can sometimes suggest charm rather than competition. For example: 'The gymnast victoriously lifted her arms as the crowd roared' emphasises public celebration of a win, whereas 'She successfully completed the training programme' reports achievement without fanfare.

triumphantly ↗successfully ↗winningly ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • emerge victoriously
  • return victoriously
  • wave victoriously
  • cheer victoriously
  • march victoriously

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Comes from Latin 'victoria' (victory), which passed through Old French 'victorieus' and into Middle English as 'victorious'. The suffix '-ly' was added to form the adverb, following the common English pattern of turning adjectives into adverbs.