Cool MateSuccess vs Victory
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Success
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Victory
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Success
| Success | Victory | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/səkˈses/"]/🇺🇸 /["/səkˈses/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈvɪktəri/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈvɪktəri/"]/ |
| Meaning | When you achieve something you wanted to do. | Winning a game or competition. |
| Example | His success in the competition made him very proud. | The team celebrated their hard-earned victory at the championship finals. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | enormous, great, immense, amount, degree, level, achieve, attain, enjoy, come, lie (in something), depend on something, rate, story, factor, with success, without success, success in, a chance of success, a hope of success, confident of success, resounding, roaring, rousing, be, prove, have, wish somebody (every) success | big, famous, glorious, achieve, capture, clinch, celebration, parade, party, victory against, victory for, victory over, snatch victory from the jaws of defeat |
| Antonyms | failure, defeat, setback | defeat, loss |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'successfully', which is an adverb., Used incorrectly as a verb instead of the noun form., Misplaced in sentences, such as 'We have success' instead of 'We are successful'. | 'Victory' is often confused with 'defeat' as antonyms., Some learners use 'victory' as a verb, which it is not., Mixing up 'victory' with similar-sounding words such as 'victorious'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'success' when talking about achieving goals or winning in a friendly context. Avoid using it in negative situations or as a mockery. | Use 'victory' in contexts related to competitions, sports, battles, or achievements. It’s generally neutral but can feel more formal in written contexts. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'win' may suffice. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Success vs Victory
What's the difference between Success and Victory?
Success: When you achieve something you wanted to do. Victory: Winning a game or competition.
Which is more common: Success and Victory?
Success is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Success and Victory?
Victory is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Success and Victory the same CEFR level?
Success: A1, Victory: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Success and Victory?
Success: noun, Victory: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Success: His success in the competition made him very proud. Victory: The team celebrated their hard-earned victory at the championship finals.
Can I use Success and Victory interchangeably?
Not always. Success and Victory are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.