Library / English Dictionary

TRIUMPH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A successful ending of a struggle or contest

Example:

the agreement was a triumph for common sense

Synonyms:

triumph; victory

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("triumph" is a kind of...):

conclusion; ending; finish (event whose occurrence ends something)

success (an event that accomplishes its intended purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "triumph"):

win (a victory (as in a race or other competition))

fall; pin (when a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat)

independence (the successful ending of the American Revolution)

landslide (an overwhelming electoral victory)

last laugh (ultimate success achieved after a near failure (inspired by the saying 'he laughs best who laughs last'))

Pyrrhic victory (a victory that is won by incurring terrible losses)

slam; sweep (winning all or all but one of the tricks in bridge)

checkmate (complete victory)

blowout; laugher; romp; runaway; shoo-in; walkaway (an easy victory)

service break (a tennis game won on the opponent's service)

walk-in; waltz (an assured victory (especially in an election))

Derivation:

triumph (prove superior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The exultation of victory

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("triumph" is a kind of...):

exultation; jubilance; jubilancy; jubilation (a feeling of extreme joy)

Derivation:

triumph (be ecstatic with joy)

triumphal (joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

To express great joy

Example:

Who cannot exult in Spring?

Synonyms:

exuberate; exult; jubilate; rejoice; triumph

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "triumph" is one way to...):

cheer; cheer up; chirk up (become cheerful)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "triumph"):

glory (rejoice proudly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

triumphant (joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dwell on with satisfaction

Synonyms:

crow; gloat; triumph

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "triumph" is one way to...):

blow; bluster; boast; brag; gas; gasconade; shoot a line; swash; tout; vaunt (show off)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "triumph"):

congratulate; preen (pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue triumph

Sense 3

Meaning:

Prove superior

Example:

The champion prevailed, though it was a hard fight

Synonyms:

prevail; triumph

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "triumph" is one way to...):

win (be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

triumph (a successful ending of a struggle or contest)

triumphant (experiencing triumph)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be ecstatic with joy

Synonyms:

rejoice; triumph; wallow

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "triumph" is one way to...):

be on cloud nine; exult; jump for joy; walk on air (feel extreme happiness or elation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

triumph (the exultation of victory)

triumphant (joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The triumph of my enemy increased with the difficulty of my labours.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I saw the former, in his last great triumph.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess?

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He had more than the ordinary triumph of accepted love to swell his heart, and raise his spirits.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

There was a ring of triumph in his voice, and his eyes, clear blue this morning as the sea, were sparkling with light.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In fact, he rather prided himself on his narrow escapes, and liked to thrill the girls with graphic accounts of his triumphs over wrathful tutors, dignified professors, and vanquished enemies.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

His carriage was one of mingled triumph and caution.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

When at last he descended, it was with triumph in his eyes, but he said nothing to either of us as to the result of his researches.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You are in the lead, and it seems you are on a roll with one triumph after another!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

A hearty kissing I got for a welcome, and some boastful triumph, which I swallowed as well as I could.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)