victory
gb/vˈɪktɚi/ us/vˈɪktɚi/
A2
English
~ 1600
győzelem
NOUN
A2
1
győzelem
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s victory over [someone/something]
The team celebrated their victory after the final whistle.
A csapat a lefújás után ünnepelte a győzelmét.
Her victory in the election surprised many experts.
A választási győzelme sok szakértőt meglepett.
The battle ended in a decisive victory for the allied forces.
He claimed victory in the marathon despite an injury.
The rebels declared victory after capturing the capital.
Learner examples
Our team won a big victory.
A csapatunk nagy győzelmet aratott.
She felt happy about her victory.
Örült a győzelmének.
They had a narrow victory in the game.
The army got a great victory.
He was proud of his victory.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'victory' with 'win'. 'Win' is the verb (e.g., 'We won the game'), while 'victory' is the noun (e.g., 'We celebrated our victory').
Meaning
success in a contest or battle
Collocations
win a victory
|decisive victory
|narrow victory
|claim victory
|celebrate victory
Synonyms
triumph (Often has a more emotional or celebratory tone than 'victory'.)
|
success (More general; not limited to contests or struggles.)
Antonyms
defeat (The state of being beaten in a contest or struggle.)
Themes
sports
|war
|success
|core_vocabulary
Definition
When you win a game, fight, or competition.
The act of defeating an opponent or overcoming a challenge in a competition, battle, or struggle.
Grammar
Dictionary form
victory
IPA
GB/vˈɪktɚi/
US/vˈɪktɚi/
Syllables & stress
vic - tory (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vic)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: victory
- Plural: victories, victory
Word family
Forms
victories
noun
Core family
Related words
victor
noun
Negative and opposite forms
defeat
noun A2
Advanced or less common
victoriously
adverb C1
Expressions
celebrate victory
1/sˈɛləbɹˌeɪt vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
rejoice after winning
To be happy and do something special because you have won.
Examples
- Fans gathered downtown to celebrate the team's victory.
- They celebrated victory with fireworks and music.
claim victory
1/klˈeɪm vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
declare that you have won
To say that you have won something, often officially or publicly.
Examples
- The candidate claimed victory before all votes were counted.
- After hours of negotiations, the union leaders claimed victory.
win a narrow victory
1/wˈɪn ə nˈɛɹoʊ vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
win by a small margin
To win something but only by a very small amount.
Examples
- The team won a narrow victory after scoring in the last minute.
- She won a narrow victory in the singing contest.
decisive victory
1/dɪsˈaɪsɪv vˈɪktɚi/
fixed phrase
a clear and final win
A win that is very clear and strong, so there is no doubt about who is better or who wins.
Examples
- The army's decisive victory ended the war.
- The team scored three goals in the second half and secured a decisive victory.
- It was a decisive victory that boosted the team's confidence.
- The polls show that the president won a decisive victory in the election.
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
1/snˈæt͡ʃ vˈɪktɚi fɹˈʌm ðə d͡ʒˈɔz əv dɪfˈit/
idiom
informal
win when close to losing
To win at the last moment when you were almost losing.
Examples
- The underdogs snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-minute goal.
- She managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in the debate.
snatch victory from the jaws of defeat
2/snˈæt͡ʃ vˈɪktɚi fɹˈʌm ðə d͡ʒˈɔz əv dɪfˈit/
idiom
Win after almost losing
To win when it seemed you were going to lose.
Examples
- The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with two late goals.
- She snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the final seconds of the match.