Phrase guide

win back

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To win (something) that one has previously lost.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • He lost $1000 in one hand, and spent most of the night trying to win it back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To regain favour (with).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To get (someone) to be one's partner, after having been apart.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • John, my ex-boyfriend, said he wanted to see me again, so I told him how much I wanted him in an effort to win him back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We got back the money after we threatened to sue the company
  • He got back his son from the kidnappers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: get back

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: get, acquire

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.