win over

persuade someone to support or agree with you, especially someone who was against you at first

C1

What does "win sb over" mean?

To win someone over means to persuade them to support you or agree with your position, particularly when they started out resistant, sceptical, or undecided. The key idea is a shift — the other person had doubts or reservations, and something you said or did changed their mind. This makes it different from simply convincing a willing person; there has to be some initial resistance to overcome. The result is often described as genuine and lasting — the person isn't just grudgingly going along with you, but has genuinely come around to your side. You'll encounter this phrasal verb frequently in political commentary, business contexts, and journalism, as well as in everyday conversation about interpersonal dynamics.

Examples

How to use it

win + object + over

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'win' and 'over' — this separation is not optional.

The proposal sounded risky at first, but the detailed evidence quickly won them over.

win over + noun phrase

With longer or heavier noun phrases, keeping the object after 'over' sounds more natural.

The start-up struggled to win over investors who had been sceptical from the beginning.

try / manage / struggle + to + win over + object

This infinitive construction is extremely common and highlights the effort involved in the persuasion.

She worked for weeks to win over the most vocal critics on the committee.

be won over + by + cause/person

The passive form shifts focus onto the person who was persuaded rather than whoever did the persuading.

The board was eventually won over by the clarity and ambition of the presentation.

win over + hearts and minds

This fixed collocation refers to gaining broad public support and is common in political and campaigning contexts.

The new policy was designed to win over hearts and minds in regions that had long felt ignored.

Common Collocations

votersskepticsthe crowdcriticsinvestorsdoubters

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'win' and 'over'. Placing the pronoun after 'over' sounds unnatural and should always be avoided.

✗ She managed to win over them with a single well-argued speech.
✓ She managed to win them over with a single well-argued speech.
Using it without an initial resistance

'Win over' implies that the person was initially resistant, sceptical, or undecided. Using it for someone who was already enthusiastic or supportive sounds odd and misrepresents the meaning.

✗ My friend already loved the idea, so I easily won her over.
✓ My friend was doubtful at first, but I eventually won her over.
Confusing 'win over' with 'talk into'

'Talk into' focuses on persuading someone to take one specific action, while 'win over' means gaining someone's broader support, approval, or loyalty. They are not interchangeable.

✗ I finally won him over to apply for the promotion.
✓ I finally talked him into applying for the promotion. / I finally won him over to our way of thinking.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English, from casual conversation to political journalism. It always implies that the person persuaded was initially resistant or at least undecided — don't use it for someone who was already on your side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'win over' always imply that the person was against you at first?

Not necessarily against you, but always resistant, neutral, or undecided — there has to be some gap to close. Using 'win over' for someone who was already fully on your side sounds strange, because the phrase is built around the idea of overcoming initial hesitation or doubt.

Can 'win over' be used in the passive?

Yes, and it works very naturally. The passive form 'be won over by' is common in journalism and narrative writing when the focus is on the person who changed their mind rather than whoever did the persuading. For example: 'Even the harshest critics were eventually won over by the results.'

Is there a difference between 'win over' and 'bring around'?

'Bring around' (or 'bring round' in British English) also means to persuade someone to change their view, but it tends to suggest a slower, more gradual process — sometimes implying reluctant acceptance. 'Win over' can happen more quickly and often suggests the person ends up genuinely enthusiastic, not just resigned to agreeing.

Can I use 'win over' in the present continuous — for example, 'she is winning them over'?

It's possible but relatively rare. The present continuous works best when describing an ongoing campaign or effort — 'she is slowly winning them over' in a narrative context is acceptable. In most everyday situations, 'win over' tends to be used in the simple past, present perfect, or with infinitive constructions like 'trying to win them over'.

What kinds of objects go most naturally with 'win over'?

The most natural objects are groups or individuals who represent some kind of resistant or undecided audience — voters, sceptics, critics, doubters, investors, the board, the crowd. You can also use 'win over' in a more personal context, such as winning over a colleague or a parent. It sounds odd with objects that suggest no resistance at all, like 'a fan' or 'a supporter'.

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