vic ‧ to ‧ ry W2 /ˈvɪkt ə ri/ BrE AmE noun ( plural victories ) [uncountable and countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: victorie , from Latin victoria , from victus ; ⇨ ↑ victor ]
a situation in which you win a battle, game, election, or ↑ dispute OPP defeat
victory over/against
the Raiders’ 35–17 victory over St Louis
victory for
The court’s decision represents a victory for all women.
⇨ ↑ Pyrrhic victory
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + victory
▪ a great/major victory
He said the court’s decision was a great victory.
▪ an easy victory
Arsenal expected an easy victory.
▪ a decisive victory
The battle was a decisive victory for the US.
▪ a landslide victory (=a win by a very large amount in an election)
No one had anticipated such a landslide victory.
▪ a crushing victory (=a win by a very large amount)
Australia won a crushing 139-run victory over the West Indies.
▪ a narrow victory (=a win by a small amount)
A general election on Oct. 5 produced a narrow victory for the People’s Progressive Party.
▪ an election/electoral victory
The Democrats were celebrating their election victory.
▪ a military victory
one of the General’s most famous military victories
▪ a moral victory (=when you show your beliefs are right, even if you lose the argument)
The victims’ families claimed the verdict as a moral victory.
■ verbs
▪ win/score a victory
Today we have won an important victory.
▪ lead somebody to victory
She led her team to victory in the finals.
▪ clinch victory (=finally win)
Adams scored a last-minute goal to clinch victory.
▪ pull off a victory (=win when it is difficult)
Martin pulled off a surprise victory in the semi-final.
▪ sweep to victory (=win easily)
Nixon swept to victory by 47 million votes to 29 million.
■ victory + NOUN
▪ victory celebrations
The victory celebrations went on all night.
▪ a victory parade
They intend to hold a victory parade.
▪ a victory lap (=when a winning runner or player runs around the playing area)
He then took a victory lap around the arena.
■ phrases
▪ a string of victories (=a series of victories)
The team won a string of victories.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'get victory' or 'get the victory' . Say win a victory or win victory .
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THESAURUS
▪ victory noun [uncountable and countable] a situation in which you win a battle, game, election, or ↑ dispute :
The crowds celebrated Italy’s victory against England.
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The party won a comfortable victory in the general election.
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We’re very confident of victory.
▪ win noun [countable] a victory in a sports game or in a competition:
It was an important win for the Yankees.
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A couple from London are celebrating a big lottery win.
▪ triumph noun [countable] written an important victory, especially in war or politics:
Thatcher’s greatest triumph was becoming the UK’s first female Prime Minister.
▪ conquest noun [countable] a situation in which one country wins a war against another country and takes control of it:
the Spanish conquest of Mexico
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Caesar is well-known for his military conquests.
▪ landslide noun [countable] an election victory in which one party or ↑ candidate gets far more votes than their opponents:
In 1945, there was a Labour landslide.
▪ walkover especially British English , cakewalk American English noun [countable] informal a very easy victory:
The match was expected to be a walkover for Brazil.
▪ upset noun [countable] a situation in which the person, team, party etc that was expected to win is defeated:
Truman pulled off the greatest election upset in United States history.