win / win/ • v. (win·ning; past and past part. won / wən; wän/ ) [tr.] 1. be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict): the Mets have won four games in a row | [intr.] a determination to win | the Pirates won 2–1. 2. acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor: there are hundreds of prizes to be won | the sort of play that won them the World Cup. ∎  gain (a person's attention, support, or love), typically gradually or by effort: you will find it difficult to win back their attention. ∎  (win someone over) gain the support or favor of someone by action or persuasion: her sense of humor had won him over at once. ∎  [intr.] (win out) manage to succeed or achieve something by effort: talent won out over bureaucracy. ∎ archaic manage to reach (a place) by effort: many lived to win the great cave. ∎  obtain (ore) from a mine. • n. a successful result in a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor; a victory: a win against Norway.PHRASES: one can't win inf. said when someone feels that no course of action open to them will bring success or please people.win the day be victorious in battle, sport, or argument.win or lose whether one succeeds or fails: win or lose, the important thing for him is to set a good example.win (or earn) one's spurs hist. gain a knighthood by an act of bravery. ∎ inf. gain one's first distinction or honors.you can't win them all (or win some, lose some) inf. said to express consolation or resignation after failure in a contest.DERIVATIVES: win·less n.win·na·ble adj.

win win one's spurs gain a knighthood by an act of bravery; Froissart's Chronicle, referring to the Black Prince at the battle of Crécy in 1346, refers to the instruction given by his father Edward III that those with the prince should ‘suffre hym this day to wynne his spurres’, often quoted as ‘Let the boy win his spurs.’
you can't win them all proverbial saying, mid 20th century, used as an expression of consolation or resignation. (Compare you win a few, you lose a few.)
you win a few, you lose a few proverbial saying, mid 20th century, meaning that one has to accept failure as well as success, and used as an expression of consolation or resignation. In 1995, the dramatist Alan Bennett was reported as having cancelled an interview with a newspaper which had described him as ‘winsome’ with the words, ‘Winsome, lose some.’ (Compare you can't win them all.)

win pt., pp. won †work; †vanquish OE.; gain XII; be victorious (also tr.) XIII. OE. str. vb. (ġe)winnan = OS. winnan suffer, win, MLG., MDu. winnen till, obtain, OHG. winnan rage, contend, gewinnan gain by labour (G. gewinnen earn, gain), ON. vinna labour, gain, Goth. (ga)winnan suffer; Gmc. vb. of uncertain relations.
So win sb. †A. conflict, strife OE.; †gain, wealth XII; B. victory XIX; gains. In A. OE. (ġe)win(n), ME. (i)win; in B f. the vb.

WIN Weight‐control Information Network of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; web site www. niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm.

WIN (wɪn) (USA) Work Incentive