triumph
gb/tɹˈaɪəmf/ us/tɹˈaɪəmf/
B2
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
a great victory or success
A very big win or success, especially after a hard fight or problem.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a triumph for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"do a triumph"* instead of using verbs like *"win," "achieve,"* or *"be": say *"Their victory was a triumph"* or *"They achieved a triumph"*, not *"They did a triumph."* Another mistake is using *"triumph"* for any small success; it usually suggests something especially big or hard-won.
Synonyms
victory (Emphasizes winning a contest or battle; very close in meaning but slightly less emotional than "triumph.")
|
success (More general and neutral; does not always suggest a hard struggle or strong emotion like "triumph" does.)
Antonyms
defeat (The state of being beaten in a contest or struggle; the direct opposite result of a triumph.)
|
failure (Not achieving what was wanted or planned; a broad opposite to a triumph in any area of life.)
Collocations
great triumph
|personal triumph
|political triumph
|sports triumph
|a triumph for
Themes
success
|emotions
|sports
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her election was a major triumph for the environmental movement.
- The team’s last-minute goal turned the match into an unlikely triumph.
- The rescue operation was hailed as a triumph by the international press.
- Completing the marathon was a real triumph for him after his injury.
- The agreement marked a diplomatic triumph for the small island nation.
Learner examples
- Winning the prize was a big triumph for her.
- Their triumph in the final game surprised everyone.
- The new law is a triumph for human rights.
- Finishing the long project felt like a triumph for the whole team.
- The movie was a triumph at the box office.
Noun
C1
state
2
joyful feeling after victory
A very strong happy and proud feeling after you win or do something very well.
Usage pattern:
a feeling of triumph at [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the event with the feeling and say things like *"I had a triumph"* when they mean the emotion. In that case, it is more natural to say *"I felt triumph"* or *"I felt a sense of triumph."*
Synonyms
exultation (A formal word for great joy after success; close in meaning but less common in everyday speech.)
|
elation (Focuses more on strong happiness, slightly less on pride than "triumph.")
Antonyms
disappointment (Feeling sad because something did not go as hoped; emotional opposite of the joy in a triumph.)
|
humiliation (Feeling deeply ashamed or lowered in status, often after a loss; a sharp emotional contrast to triumph.)
Collocations
sense of triumph
|smile of triumph
|cry of triumph
|look of triumph
|in a burst of triumph
Themes
emotions
|success
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A slow smile of triumph spread across her face as she read the email.
- He let out a shout of triumph when he finally solved the problem.
- They exchanged quick looks of quiet triumph as the audience applauded.
- With a feeling of pure triumph, he crossed the finish line.
- She raised her arms in triumph as the result was announced.
Learner examples
- He gave a little cry of triumph when he passed the test.
- She felt a strong sense of triumph after the game.
- A look of triumph was on her face when she saw the score.
- They walked off the field in triumph.
- He smiled in triumph when his plan worked.
Verb
C1
action
3
to win or be victorious
To win or succeed in a strong way, especially when it was hard or there was a big problem.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] triumphs over [someone/something]
Common mistake:
A common mistake is leaving out the preposition and saying *"triumph the enemy"* instead of *"triumph over the enemy."* Another error is using it for small or everyday wins; it usually suggests a big, important, or dramatic success.
Synonyms
prevail (Often used in formal or written English and highlights finally winning after resistance; slightly more neutral in tone than "triumph.")
|
win (More general and common; does not always carry the sense of great or dramatic victory that "triumph" suggests.)
Antonyms
lose (To not win; the basic opposite action of triumphing in a contest or struggle.)
|
succumb (To give in or be defeated by something, especially pressure, illness, or temptation; the opposite of successfully resisting and triumphing.)
Collocations
triumph over adversity
|triumph over evil
|triumph against the odds
|justice triumphs
|love triumphs
Themes
success
|conflict
|sports
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In the end, the underdogs triumphed over the defending champions.
- Good storytelling triumphs when characters feel real and complex.
- Despite many setbacks, they triumphed against the odds.
- Justice finally triumphed when the case was reopened.
- Love triumphs over fear in the final chapter of the novel.
Learner examples
- Their team triumphed over a much stronger side.
- After many problems, the company finally triumphed.
- The small party triumphed in the local election.
- Good ideas can triumph over money and power.
- With hard work, she triumphed in the end.
Noun
C1
entity
4
an outstanding piece of work
A work, plan, or idea that is very successful and impressive.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a triumph of [quality/field]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "triumph" here only for people, saying *"He is a triumph"* when they mean his work or result is impressive. It is more natural to say *"His design is a triumph"* or *"The project is a triumph."*
Synonyms
masterpiece (Often used for great works of art or literature; suggests the best work of an artist, while "triumph" can describe any kind of outstanding success.)
|
tour de force (A more formal or literary expression, especially for a piece of work that shows great skill or energy.)
Antonyms
disaster (A complete failure or very bad result, especially when something goes seriously wrong instead of becoming a triumph.)
|
flop (An informal word for something that fails badly, especially a show, product, or event; the opposite of a triumph in popularity or impact.)
Collocations
a triumph of design
|a triumph of engineering
|a triumph of planning
|a triumph of imagination
|a triumph of modern technology
Themes
work
|art
|success
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new bridge is a triumph of modern engineering.
- Her first novel is a triumph of careful observation and sharp wit.
- The festival was a logistical triumph, with everything running on time.
- Their marketing campaign turned out to be a triumph of creativity over budget limits.
- The museum’s renovation is a triumph of light and space.
Learner examples
- The building is a triumph of modern design.
- His speech was a triumph of clear and simple language.
- The project was a triumph of good planning.
- This small device is a triumph of new technology.
- Their new app is a triumph for the company.
Noun
technical
C2
event
5
Roman victory procession ceremony
In ancient Rome, a special parade to thank and honor a general after a big military win.
Usage pattern:
a Roman triumph for [commander]
Synonyms
victory parade (A modern, general term for a public celebration after a win; similar idea but not limited to ancient Rome.)
Antonyms
funeral procession (Another formal public parade, but to mourn the dead rather than to celebrate victory.)
Collocations
a Roman triumph
|celebrate a triumph
|grant a triumph
|ride in triumph
|triumph procession
Themes
history
|politics
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- The Senate voted to grant the general a triumph after his decisive campaign.
- In a Roman triumph, captured leaders were paraded through the streets before the cheering crowds.
- Many ancient reliefs show emperors riding in triumph through the city.
- The historian describes Caesar’s triumph in vivid detail.
- Awarding a triumph was a powerful political tool in the late Republic.
Learner examples
- In ancient Rome, a general could get a triumph after a big war win.
- A triumph was a special parade to show military power.
- The book explains how a Roman triumph was planned.
- The emperor rode in a triumph through the city.
- Only very successful generals received a triumph.
Grammar
Dictionary form
triumph
IPA
GB/tɹˈaɪəmf/
US/tɹˈaɪəmf/
Syllables & stress
tri - umph (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tri)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: triumph
- Plural: triumph, triumphs
Verb
- Base: triumph
- 3rd Person Singular: triumphs
- Present Participle: triumphing
- Past: triumphed
Word family
Forms
triumphs
noun
triumphing
verb
triumphed
verb
Core family
triumphant
adjective B2
triumphantly
adverb
Related words
victory
noun A2
victorious
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
defeat
noun A2
Advanced or less common
triumphal
adjective
triumphalism
noun
Expressions
a triumph of
1/ə tɹˈaɪəmf əv/
fixed phrase
extremely successful example of something
Used to say that something is very successful and clearly shows a special quality, idea, or type of work.
Examples
- The garden is a triumph of careful planning.
- Their small house is a triumph of smart design.
- The bridge is a triumph of modern engineering.
in triumph
1/ˈɪn tɹˈaɪəmf/
fixed phrase
showing joy after a win
In a way that clearly shows you are very happy and proud because you have won or succeeded.
Examples
- She held the trophy high in triumph.
- The players ran across the field in triumph.
- He looked back in triumph as the crowd cheered.
the triumph of good over evil
1/ðə tɹˈaɪəmf əv ɡˈʊd ˈoʊvɚ ˈivəl/
idiom
good wins against evil
A situation where what is morally good finally wins against what is bad or wrong.
Examples
- The movie is a simple story about the triumph of good over evil.
- Many fairy tales end with the triumph of good over evil.
- Critics praised the novel for showing the triumph of good over evil without being too simple.
triumph over
1/tɹˈaɪəmf ˈoʊvɚ/
fixed phrase
win against someone or something
To win against someone or something, especially after a hard fight or many problems.
Examples
- The film shows how ordinary people can triumph over fear.
- Her determination helped her triumph over serious illness.
- In the story, good eventually triumphs over evil.