The verb to win · Conjugation
Past Simple of win
The answer: won
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to win is won.
Example: We won the match 3-1.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | won |
| You | won |
| He / She / It | won |
| We | won |
| You (pl.) | won |
| They | won |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Win or earn?
Win = in a competition or the lottery. Earn = with your work, for a salary. I won the lottery, but I earn £2000 a month.
2. Winned ❌
Win is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is won, never winned.
3. We won the other team ❌
Win a match (the competition). Beat someone (the opponent). Never win someone: say We beat the other team or We won the match.
Practice quiz
Going further
The English contest tests the Past Simple of win in real sentences
Instead of a single school exercise, your students meet this tense in context, in a contest that really motivates them.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Practise on PLAYMaster the Past Simple of win when you speak, not just on paper
The conjugation is clear in your head. On PLAY, you practise it in a game, with instant feedback, until it comes out on its own.
Practise the Past Simple of win on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersYour whole class practises the Past Simple of win, and you follow each student
The Academy has self-marking activities on this form, with a dashboard for each student: you see at a glance who is falling behind.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of win?+
The Past Simple of win is won (said /wʌn/). The past participle is also won. Win → won → won.
How do you pronounce won?+
Won is said /wʌn/, like one, not like own. The o sounds /ʌ/, like the vowel in cup.
What is the difference between win and earn?+
Win = in a competition, for a prize or in the lottery. Earn = with your work, for a salary. I won the lottery. I earn £2000 a month.
Is it won or winned?+
Win is irregular. Its Past Simple is won, never winned.
Is it win against or beat?+
You can say win against someone or beat someone. We won against them = We beat them. Beat is more natural when you want to focus on the opponent.
Related pages: win Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/past-simple
© 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.
Keep learning
More forms of the verb to win are coming soon.