triumph

1 of 2

noun

tri·​umph ˈtrī-əm(p)f How to pronounce triumph (audio)
plural triumphs ˈtrī-əm(p)fs How to pronounce triumph (audio) -əm(p)s How to pronounce triumph (audio)
1
a
: a victory or conquest by or as if by military force
b
: a notable success
the party was a triumph
2
: the joy or exultation of victory or success
3
: a ceremony attending the entering of Rome by a general who had won a decisive victory over a foreign enemy compare ovation sense 1
triumphal adjective

triumph

2 of 2

verb

triumphed; triumphing; triumphs

intransitive verb

1
: to obtain victory : prevail
2
a
: to receive the honor of a triumph
b
: to celebrate victory or success boastfully or exultingly

Examples of triumph in a Sentence

Noun They earned a magnificent triumph over the invading army. They were able to achieve an important triumph against their chief rivals. Quitting smoking was a personal triumph for her. The party was a triumph. The bridge is an engineering triumph. They had a feeling of triumph after finishing the project. They stood atop the mountain in triumph. Verb His favorite team triumphed in the championship game. despite an accident early on, the runner persevered and ultimately triumphed
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
How many of us are aware of the gentle soul behind the larger-than-life triumphs of Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Schindler’s List? Josh Weiss, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 There have been three players who recorded five homers in a single World Series, with Reggie Jackson first doing so in the Yankees’ 1977 World Series triumph over the Dodgers. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
The actress who won two Oscars for Best Actress for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, triumphed at the primetime TV awards in September winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Anthology Series or Movie category. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2024 Meanwhile, costar Lady Gaga, an eccentric, electric singer who would have triumphed in the Golden Age of American musicals, has been encouraged to tone down her energy to embrace the film’s grime and grimness. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for triumph 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English triumphe, from Old French, from Latin triumphus

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of triumph was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near triumph

Cite this Entry

“Triumph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/triumph. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

triumph

1 of 2 noun
tri·​umph ˈtrī-əm(p)f How to pronounce triumph (audio)
plural triumphs
1
: an ancient Roman ceremony honoring a victorious general
2
: the joy of victory or success
3
a
: a military victory or conquest
b
: any great success
a scientific triumph

triumph

2 of 2 verb
1
: to celebrate victory or success with much rejoicing
2
: to gain victory : win

More from Merriam-Webster on triumph

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