winners

IPA/ˈwɪn.ər/
KK[wˈɪnɚz]IPA/ˈwɪn.ɚ/

winners — noun

  • winnerssingular
  • winnersesplural

1. a person, team, or animal that defeats others in a contest, game, race, or elect

1.nounA2
Definition

a person, team, or animal that defeats others in a contest, game, race, or election and receives a prize or position as a result.

Example

The winner of the science fair received a trophy and a university scholarship.

winner + of + [competition/event]

Nadia was named the winner of the Young Writers’ Award for her first novel.

passive: be named the winner of [award]

Common collocations
  • winner of the game
  • winner of the election
  • overall winner
  • clear winner
  • winner takes all
Synonyms
  • champion

    emphasises the top title-holder, especially after a final or series of contests

  • victor

    more formal or literary; used for decisive military or contest victories

  • first-place finisher

    literal description focused on rank in a race or contest

Antonyms
  • loser

    the person or team that does not win

Grammar Patterns

winner + of + [competition/event]

winner + in + [field/event]

Usage Note

Countable noun. Often followed by of + the competition, game, or election. The plural winners commonly refers to a team or multiple individuals.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The winner team celebrated their victory.' ✅ 'The winning team celebrated their victory.' — winner is a noun, not an adjective; use winning as the modifier.

2. a goal, point, or shot in a sport that gives one side a lead that decides the re

2.nounB2
Definition

a goal, point, or shot in a sport that gives one side a lead that decides the result of the game.

Example

Jude scored the winner in the final minute of the football match.

collocation: score + the winner

Meera hit a perfect winner down the line that the other player could not return.

collocation: hit + a winner (tennis/badminton)

Common collocations
  • score the winner
  • hit a winner
  • the winner in extra time
  • last-minute winner
Synonyms
  • deciding goal

    synonymous but more explicit about the match-deciding role

  • winning shot

    the full phrase, used especially in tennis and badminton

Grammar Patterns

score the winner

hit a winner

Usage Note

Usually singular and used with the definite article: the winner. Common in football (soccer), tennis, badminton, and hockey commentary. Do not confuse with sense 1 (the person who wins).

Common Mistakes

❗ 'He scored a winning.' ✅ 'He scored the winner.' — winner in this sense needs the article the (or a) and cannot be used alone as a bare adjective.

3. something such as a product, book, film, or plan that is extremely popular, effe

3.nounB1
Definition

something such as a product, book, film, or plan that is extremely popular, effective, or commercially successful.

Example

The new phone design was a real winner, selling millions within the first month.

collocation: was a real winner (informal)

Jisoo’s chocolate cake recipe was a winner at the family gathering.

collocation: turn out to be a winner

Common collocations
  • real winner
  • proven winner
  • be a winner
  • turn out to be a winner
  • prove a winner
Synonyms
  • hit

    equally informal; common for films, songs, and shows

  • success

    more neutral in register; can apply to any successful venture

Antonyms
  • flop

    informal term for a product or show that fails completely

Grammar Patterns

be a winner

prove to be a winner

turn out to be a winner

Usage Note

Informal and figurative. Used to praise something after its success has been observed. Often preceded by real or proven for emphasis. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not refer to a person.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The new app is a winner person.' ✅ 'The new app is a winner.' — winner in this sense means the thing itself is successful; do not add person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Winner is the most general term for anyone who defeats opponents in a contest, game, or election. Champion specifically refers to someone who has won a final or series of contests, often holding a title they must defend later (a boxing champion, a league champion). Victor carries a more formal or literary tone and is common in military and historical contexts (the victor of the battle). First-place finisher is a literal description used mainly in races and ranked competitions. For everyday use, winner works in nearly every situation; champion implies a higher level of sustained achievement, while victor is best reserved for formal or dramatic writing. Example: 'She was the winner of the local 5K run' (any race) vs. 'She became the national champion after winning three qualifying rounds.'

champion ↗victor ↗first-place finisherwinner ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • game winner
  • prize winner
  • award winner
  • medal winner

Phrases

  • winner takes all
  • winner’s circle
  • come out a winner

Prepositions

  • winner of
  • winner in

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Winner comes from the Old English verb winnan, meaning 'to struggle, labour, or fight for something.' Over time, the sense shifted from striving in battle to prevailing in any contest. The noun winner (one who wins) was formed in Middle English and has been used for competition victors since the 14th century.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above