Quick Definition
νικάω v. I conquer, overcome
Strong's Definition
from 3529; to subdue (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | νίκη · νῖκος · ὑπερνικάω
39.57 · Hostility, Strife · Conquer
to be victorious over, to be a victor, to conquer, victory to win a victory over In 1JN 5:4 ‘the world’ must be understood in terms of the value system of the world. In a number of languages the closest equivalent of ‘to be victorious over’ is ‘to defeat.’
LUK 11:22 · JHN 16:33 · ROM 3:4 · ROM 12:21 · ROM 12:21 · 1JN 2:13 · 1JN 2:14 · 1JN 4:4 · 1JN 5:4 · 1JN 5:4 · 1JN 5:5 · REV 2:7 · REV 2:11 · REV 2:17 · REV 2:26 · REV 3:5 · REV 3:12 · REV 3:21 · REV 3:21 · REV 5:5 · REV 6:2 · REV 6:2 · REV 11:7 · REV 12:11 · REV 13:7 · REV 15:2 · REV 17:14 · REV 21:7
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
νικάω nikaō 28x
to conquer, overcome, vanquish, subdue, Lk. 1:22; Jn. 16:33; absol. to overcome, prevail, Rev. 5:5; to come off superior in a judicial cause, Rom. 3:4
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
νικάω, -ῶ
(< νίκη), [in LXX: Ps 50 (51):4 (זכה), Pr 6:25 freq. (חמד); freq. in IV Mac;]
to conquer, prevail: absol., of Christ, Re 3:21 6:2; c. inf., Re 5:5; of Christians, Re 2:7, 11, 17, 26 3:5, 12, 21 21:7; seq. ἐκ (RV, come victorious from), Re 15:2; as law-term (cl.), Ro 3:4(LXX); c. acc. pers., Lk 11:22, Re 11:7 13:7 ([WH], R, mg., om.); of Christ, Jo 16:33 (τ. κόσμον), Re 17:14; of Christians, I Jo 4:4; τ. πονηρόν, I Jo 2:13, 14; αὐτόν (ref. to ὁ κατήγωρ, ib. 2:10), Re 12:11; c. acc. rei, τὸν κόσμον, Jo 16:33, I Jo 5:4, 5; τὸ κακόν, Ro 12:21; pass., μὴ νικῶ ὑπὸ τ. κακοῦ, ib. (cf. ὑπερ-νικάω).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
νικάω is found in a legal sense of winning one’s case, as in Rom 34, in P Hal I. 158 (mid. iii/B.c.) ἐὰν δέ τιν (1 τις) ++ + γρ[αψ]άμενος δίκην ψευδομαρ[τ]υρίου νικήσηι KTA., and in relation to games in PSI IV. 364 (B.c. 251-0) γίνωσκε Διονύσιον τὸν ἀδελφὸν νενικηκότα τὸν ἐν ‘Tepar νήσωι ἀγῶνα τῶν ΠΙτολεμαιείων, and P Oxy XIV. 17594 (letter to an athlete—ii/A.D.) mpd [τ]ῶν ὅλων εὔχομαί ce ὑγιαίνειν [κ]αὶ νικᾶν πάντοτε. It is very common as an epithet of the Emperors, e.g. P Amh II. 1401} (a.p. 349) τῶ]ν πάντα νικώντων] δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν ᾿Αγούστων, ‘of our all-victorious masters the Augusti” (Edd.). A good parallel to Rom 12! is afforded by Zest. xtz. patr. Benj. iv. 3 οὗτος TO ἀγαθὸν ποιῶν νικᾷ TO κακόν.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
νικάω (nikaō) — to conquer. νῑκάω, Ionic dialect νικέω [NT+4th c.BC+]; Aeolic dialect νίκημι [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; also in imperfect νίκη conjecture in [Refs 5th c.BC+]: Epic dialect imperfect 1st pers. plural νικάσκομεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]future -ήσω, later -ήσομαι[Refs 4th c.AD+]; Doric dialect 2nd pers. singular νικαξῇ variant in [Refs 3rd c.BC+]perfect νενίκηκα, etc.: (νίκη):
I. absolutely, conquer, prevail in battle, in the games, or in any contest, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὁ νικήσας the conqueror,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ νικηθείς the conquered, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐνίκησα καὶ δεύτερος καὶ τέταρτος ἐγενόμην I won the first prize [at Olympia], etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: present frequently in sense, to be (or be proclaimed) conqueror, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; νικᾶν πᾶσι τοῖς κριταῖς or ἑνὶ κριτῇ in their opinion, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πολὺ ν. win a decisive victory, [Refs 5th c.BC+] in boxing, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἵππῳ [Refs 5th c.BC+] he won all the bouts, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὰ κοῦφα, τὰ μείζοναν., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ναυμαχίαν, μάχας, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to be conqueror in the Olympian games, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πολλοὺς ἀγῶνας οὐ παγκρατίῳ μόνον, κτλ., [Refs 1st c.AD+]; Ὀλυμπίασι παῖδας στάδιον ν. conquer in the boys' race in the stadium at Olympia, [Refs 4th c.BC+] Diog.Cyn. cited in [Refs 3rd c.AD+]: also in Attic dialect Inscrr. with genitive, Λεωντὶς ἀνδρῶν ἐνίκα [Refs] win a victory, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ν. τρίποδα win it, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
I.2. prevail, be superior, μύθοισιν, ἔγχεϊ, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κάλλει ἐνίκα (i.e. κρητήρ) [Refs 8th c.BC+]: with participle, εὐεργετῶν ν. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.3. of opinions, etc., βουλὴ κακὴ νίκησεν the evil counsel prevailed, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐκ τῆς νικώσης [γνώμης] according to the prevailing opinion, vote of the majority, [Refs 5th c.BC+]is carried, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently of orators, νικᾷ.. ὁ κακὸς ἐν πλήθει λέγων [Refs 5th c.BC+] it was resolved, with infinitive, ἐνίκα μὴ ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν it was carried not.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐνίκησε.. λοιμὸν εἰρῆσθαι it was the prevailing opinion that.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν δημοκρατίᾳ νικᾷ ζῆν it is preferable.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.4. with infinitive, succeed in.., ἐνίκησε σκορπίσαι [Refs]
I.5. as law-term, ν. τὴν δίκην win one's cause, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; νικήσεις ἐν τῷ κρίνεσθαί σε [NT]:—passive, with genitive, αἴ κα νικαθῇ τῶν ἐνεχύρων [Refs 5th c.BC+]; see below 11.
II. with accusative, conquer, vanquish, Ἕκτορα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πάντα ν. ἄνδρα.. κακοῖσιν surpass him in miseries, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μὴ φῦναι τὸν ἅπαντα νικᾷ λόγον excels the whole account, [NT+5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἔστιν ἃ τῶν ἄθλων δὶς ἕκαστος ἐνικήθη [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with participle, ν. ἀλεξόμενός τινα [Refs]
II. b as law-term [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—passive, ἧ δέ κα νικαθῇ [Refs]; also of objects in dispute, damages, etc., recover, [Refs]:—passive, to be assigned, adjudicated, [Refs]
II.2. generally, overpower, especially of passions, etc., νόον νίκησε νεοίη [Refs 8th c.BC+]; βαρεῖαν ἡδονὴν νικᾶτέ με grievous is the pleasure ye win prevailing over me, [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, μηδ᾽ ἡ βία σε.. νικησάτω τοσόνδε μισεῖν let not violence prevail on thee to.., [Refs] weighs with me more than enmity, from the comparable force in νικᾷ, [Refs]
II.3. passive, to be vanquished, [Refs 8th c.BC+]participle νικηθείς (see. above [Refs]; νικᾶσθαι ὕπνῳ, κέρδεσιν, [Refs 5th c.BC+] with genitive of comparison, to be inferior, yield to, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ξείνων νενίκανται θύραι the doors give way to the guests, [Refs 5th c.BC+]