Irregular verb
The verb to win
win → won → won
A2Meaning: to be the best in a game or competition; to get a prize · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they win·he/she/it wins - Past Simple:
won(said /wʌn/) - Past participle:
won(the same as the Past Simple) - -ing form:
winning(double n)
Conjugation of the verb to win
Present Simple
| I | win |
| You | win |
| He / She / It | wins |
| We | win |
| You (pl.) | win |
| They | win |
Past Simple
| I | won |
| You | won |
| He / She / It | won |
| We | won |
| You (pl.) | won |
| They | won |
All the forms of the verb to win
Present Simple
Full pagewin / wins
“Our team wins every weekend.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are winning
“I am winning the race right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagewon
“We won the match 3-1.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were winning
“I was winning the race when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has won
“I have already won the race.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad won
“She had already won the race when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill win
“I will win the race tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to win
“I'm going to win the race this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould win
“I would win the race if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to win
1. Winning a competition
- We won the match.
- She won first prize.
2. Winning the lottery or a game
- He won £1 million.
- Did you win anything?
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I win 2,000 euros a month ❌
English has two different verbs here. Win = in a competition or by luck: I won a prize. Earn = with your work: She earns 2,000 euros a month.
2. Wining ❌
Spelling rule for short verbs that end in consonant + vowel + consonant: double the last consonant before -ing. Win → winning, like swim → swimming.
Going further
Conjugating to win is a key skill in the English contest
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Related pages: win
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of win?+
The Past Simple of win is won, the same for every person. The past participle is also won. Win → won → won.
What is the difference between win and earn?+
Win is for a competition, luck or a game: win a match, win a prize, win the lottery. Earn is for money you get from your work: earn a salary, earn money. I won the lottery. I earn a good salary.
What is the difference between win and beat?+
Win + a thing: a match, a game, a prize. Beat + a person or a team: an opponent, a team. We won the match. We beat the other team. When you win the match, you beat the team.
How do you pronounce won?+
Won is said /wʌn/, exactly like one. The o sounds like the vowel in cup /ʌ/, not like the vowel in own /əʊ/.
Is it won or winned?+
Win is irregular. Its Past Simple is won and its past participle is also won. Never winned.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/win
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.