victorious
gb/vɪktˈɔɹiəs/ us/vɪktˈɔɹiəs/
B2
English
~ 5500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
state
1
having won a victory
Having won a game, fight, or other contest against another person or group.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is victorious (over [someone/something])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'victorious' (adjective) with 'victory' (noun). Use 'victorious team' (adjective) but 'a big victory' (noun). Another mistake is to say *'do a victory' instead of 'win a victory' or 'be victorious'. Also, 'victorious over' is more common than 'victorious against', although both can appear.
Synonyms
triumphant (Often suggests strong joy and pride after winning, but otherwise very close in meaning.)
|
successful (More general and used for many kinds of positive results, not only in direct contests or battles.)
Antonyms
defeated (Describes someone or a group that has lost a contest, the direct opposite of having won.)
|
unsuccessful (Describes not achieving a desired result; broader and less strongly about contests than 'defeated'.)
Collocations
victorious team
|victorious side
|victorious army
|victorious leader
|emerge victorious
|return victorious
Themes
sports
|war
|politics
|success
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Against all expectations, the small local club was victorious in the national final.
- The rebels were finally victorious over the government forces.
- She emerged victorious after a long legal battle.
- The victorious team carried their coach off the field.
- History is usually written by the victorious side.
Learner examples
- Our team was victorious in the match.
- The army was victorious in the war.
- Her company was victorious over its rivals.
- He felt proud to be on the victorious side.
- They hope to be victorious in the next election.
adjective
B2
property
2
leading to or ending in victory
Describing a plan, action, or campaign that ends with a win for one side.
Usage pattern:
[an action/campaign/strategy] is/was victorious
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'victorious' only with people and forget it can also describe things like 'campaign', 'battle', or 'season'. In these cases, it means that those events ended in a win.
Synonyms
winning (Very close in meaning, especially in phrases like 'winning strategy'; slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
successful (General word for giving good results; not limited to contests, but often used similarly in this sense.)
Antonyms
losing (Describes a side, strategy, or season that ends in defeat rather than victory.)
|
failed (Emphasizes that an attempt did not reach its goal; broader than contests, but opposite in outcome.)
Collocations
victorious campaign
|victorious strategy
|victorious battle
|victorious season
|victorious effort
Themes
politics
|war
|sports
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Their victorious campaign changed the political map of the country.
- The general described the battle as a victorious operation that turned the war.
- After a long, hard season, they finally enjoyed a truly victorious year.
- The company’s victorious bid secured the largest contract in its history.
Learner examples
- The party ran a victorious campaign.
- It was a victorious battle for the small country.
- They ended the year with a victorious season.
- The plan turned out to be victorious in the end.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
showing proud joy after a win
Showing a proud, happy feeling because you have won.
Usage pattern:
[someone] gives/shows a victorious [smile/look/tone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'victorious smile' means a smile that wins something. It actually describes a smile that shows someone has already won or succeeded.
Synonyms
triumphant (Very close in meaning and common in the same phrases, often slightly more emotional or dramatic.)
|
exultant (More formal and literary, strongly focuses on intense joy rather than simply having won.)
Antonyms
downcast (Describes someone looking sad or discouraged, the opposite of proud and joyful.)
|
crestfallen (Shows deep disappointment, especially after expecting success, opposed to the joy in 'victorious'.)
Collocations
victorious smile
|victorious grin
|victorious look
|victorious tone
Themes
emotions
|communication
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He flashed a victorious smile as the final results were announced.
- She gave him a victorious look, knowing she had proved her point.
- A victorious grin spread across her face when she saw her high score.
- His voice had a victorious tone as he told the story of his promotion.
Learner examples
- He gave a victorious smile when he won.
- She spoke in a victorious voice after the game.
- A victorious look was on her face when she passed the test.
- They walked out with victorious smiles.
Grammar
Dictionary form
victorious
IPA
GB/vɪktˈɔɹiəs/
US/vɪktˈɔɹiəs/
Syllables & stress
vic - tori - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tori)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: victorious
Word family
Core family
victory
noun A2
victor
noun
Related words
victoriously
adverb C1
Negative and opposite forms
defeat
noun A2
Expressions
emerge victorious
1/ɪmˈɚd͡ʒ vɪktˈɔɹiəs/
fixed phrase
to end up as the winner
To win, especially after some time or difficulty, often when the result was not clear at first.
Examples
- After hours of negotiation, the workers emerged victorious with a better contract.
- Despite many injuries, the team emerged victorious in the tournament.
- No one expected the small party to emerge victorious in the election.
return victorious
1/ɹɪtˈɚn vɪktˈɔɹiəs/
fixed phrase
come back after a victory
To come back to a place after winning a game, war, or other contest.
Examples
- The soldiers returned victorious after the final battle.
- She hoped to return victorious from the international competition.
- They returned victorious and were greeted by cheering crowds.