Winning

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈwɪnɪŋ/

Definitions

1. Achieving success in a contest or competition ; possessing qualities that cause others to admire or like someone
2. Obtaining a favorable result or triumphing in a challenge ; having an appealing or engaging manner that attracts affection
3. Being victorious or accomplishing a goal in an event ; showing an agreeable and delightful personality that wins favor

Etymology: The verb "win" traces back to Old English "winnan," meaning "to struggle" or "to fight," and the older sense of effort and endurance is still visible in it. The Old English verb "ġewinnan" could mean "conquer" or "obtain," but it could also mean "endure" or "bear, suffer," so the idea of winning was originally tied to striving through hardship rather than simply coming out ahead. Cognates across Germanic languages, including German "gewinnen" and Swedish "vinna," all carry the sense of gaining something. The adjective "winning" grew out of the participle of that verb, and its two modern senses developed in different directions. The first, being victorious in a contest, follows the straightforward path from gaining a prize to gaining a victory. The second, having an attractive or charming personality, is a later extension in which the thing won is no longer a contest but other people's affection.

Synonyms: victorious, triumphant, successful, champion, gaining

Antonyms: losing, defeated, unsuccessful, failing, forfeiting