win

Win is a word used as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, to win means to achieve victory or a successful outcome in a contest, game, competition, or challenge. It can also mean to gain success in noncompetitive contexts, such as winning someone's trust or approval. As a noun, a win is the act or instance of achieving victory or success, or the result itself, for example, "the team earned five wins this season."

Etymology: The verb win derives from Old English winnan or winnian, related to the broader Germanic language family, with the sense of striving or contending that leads to a favorable result. The noun win developed from the verb and extended to denote the result of such striving.

Usage and scope: Common usages include sports statistics (wins, losses, win rate, win streak), business and politics (to win an election, win support), and idioms (win over, a winning strategy, a win-win outcome). The term can be contrasted with loss and defeat and is often qualified by the context or criteria used to determine the result.

Nuance and culture: A win is not inherently positive if achieved through unfair means; many contexts emphasize fair play, sportsmanship, and transparent criteria for determining a winner. The phrase win-win describes outcomes that benefit all parties involved, highlighting cooperation alongside competition.