Win crossword clue

The most likely answers for the crossword clue “Win” are GAIN, EARN or LOSE, with 4 letters. Below are 19 answers from 4 to 8 letters, best match first in each length, then what each top answer means and how to tell them apart.

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The best answers, explained

GAIN 4 letters · verb

win something through one's efforts “Gain an understanding of international finance”

MATCH 5 letters · noun

the score needed to win a match

GARNER 6 letters · verb

acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions

ADVANCE 7 letters · verb

obtain advantages, such as points, etc.

FAVORITE 8 letters · noun

a competitor thought likely to win

Telling them apart

With 4 squares, GAIN, EARN, LOSE, SWAY and ROMP all fit. The first letter tells them all apart: G → GAIN · E → EARN · L → LOSE · S → SWAY · R → ROMP. Fill in that crossing answer first.

With 5 squares, MATCH, CARRY and SWEEP all fit. The first letter tells them all apart: M → MATCH · C → CARRY · S → SWEEP. Fill in that crossing answer first.

With 6 squares, GARNER, LETTER, DEFEAT and DISARM all fit. The third letter tells them all apart: R → GARNER · T → LETTER · F → DEFEAT · S → DISARM. Fill in that crossing answer first.

Other forms of this clue

Clues often use another form of the word, and the answer then takes the same form: “wined” wants an answer that ends the same way.

What “win” means

• verb: be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious (“Win the game”)
• verb: win something through one's efforts (“win someone's confidence and friendship”)
• verb: obtain advantages, such as points, etc. (“win points”)
• verb: attain success or reach a desired goal

A clue usually points at one of these senses, so the right answer is the one that matches the sense the puzzle means: check it against the crossing words.

About these answers

We match the clue against our own thesaurus and dictionary (Open English WordNet): words that mean the same as WIN, and words whose definition is WIN. We don't copy answers from newspaper puzzles, so a clue that leans on trivia or wordplay may need the crossing letters instead.