Winner

n.joyful, capableeveryday

Meaning 1

A person or side that succeeds in a contest or selection.

Reach for it when naming the successful participant under stated rules

The winner thanked the other finalists before accepting the medal.

warm
champion
when a title or repeated excellence is part of the result
not when Champion can also mean advocate and may overstate one win.
professional
first-place finisher
when ranking should be stated exactly
not when The phrase does not fit elections, games without placements, or subjective awards.
professional
successful candidate
when a selection rather than a contest is involved
not when Successful candidate is procedural and may refer to eligibility rather than being the sole winner.
formal
victor
when success over opposition deserves a stronger tone
not when Victor sounds ceremonial and is unnatural for lotteries or routine selections.

A choice, idea, or thing that proves especially successful or appealing.

Reach for it when giving informal approval to the option that performs best

The repairable steel hinge was the clear winner in the field test.

playful
hit
when strong audience approval is the evidence
not when A hit can be fashionable but perform poorly on the practical criteria.
everyday
success
when the thing achieves its purpose
not when Success does not necessarily mean it outperformed alternatives.
warm
standout
when one item attracts especially favorable attention
not when A standout can be unusual rather than actually effective.
professional
best option
when comparison supports a decision
not when Best is an absolute claim and requires clear criteria.

clear winner
The low-maintenance pump was the clear winner after six months of testing.
overall winner
The overall winner performed consistently in every event.
award winner
The award winner used her speech to credit the full research team.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.