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1

beat

play
verb \ˈbēt\

Definition of beat

beat

;

beaten

play \ˈbē-tən\ or

beat

;

beating
  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to strike repeatedly:a :  to hit repeatedly so as to inflict pain He was arrested for beating his wife. —often used with up … thugs and brutes who beat up their victims without compunction … — J. H. Plumbb :  to walk on :  tread beat the pavement looking for workc :  to strike directly against forcefully and repeatedly :  dash against waves beating the shore beat the door with her fistsd :  to flap or thrash at vigorously a trapped bird beating the aire hunting :  to strike at in order to rouse game beating a hedgerow; also :  to range over in or as if in quest of game … beat the woods and rouse the bounding prey … — Matthew Priorf :  to mix by stirring :  whip beat the eggs —often used with upg :  to strike repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal beat a drum

  3. 2a :  to drive or force by blows beat back his attackersb :  to pound into a powder, paste, or pulpc :  to make by repeated treading or driving over beat a path through the woodsd (1) :  to dislodge by repeated hitting beat dust from the carpet (2) :  to lodge securely by repeated striking beat a stake into the grounde :  to shape by beating beat swords into plowshares; especially :  to flatten thin by blowsf :  to sound or express especially by drumbeat beating out a rhythm on the conga

  4. 3 :  to cause to strike or flap repeatedly a bird beating its wings

  5. 4a :  overcome, defeat beat the insurgents in a bloody battle beating your opponent in chess They beat us 14 to 3.; also :  surpass She beat the old record by three seconds. —often used with out Someone else beat her out for the job.b :  to prevail despite beat the oddsc :  bewilder, baffle it beats me how she does itd (1) :  fatigue, exhaust (2) :  to leave dispirited, irresolute, or hopeless Years of failure had beaten him down.e :  cheat, swindle beat him out of his inheritance

  6. 5a (1) :  to act ahead of usually so as to forestall I was going to make the suggestion, but she beat me to it. (2) journalism :  to report a news item in advance of beat the other networksb :  to come or arrive before I beat him to the finish line.c :  circumvent beat the systemd sports :  to outmaneuver (a defender) and get free The player attempts to beat the defender and score.e sports :  to score against (a goalkeeper)

  7. 6 :  to produce (music or a signal) by striking something repeatedly :  to indicate by beating beat the tempo

  8. intransitive verb

  9. 1a :  to become forcefully propelled forward :  dash waves beating against the shoreb :  to glare or strike with oppressive intensity The sun beat down on us.c :  to sustain distracting activity … the turbulence of the Renaissance … beating about his head … — Douglas Stewartd :  to strike a drum repeatedly :  to beat a drum The drummers kept beating.

  10. 2a (1) :  pulsate, throb Her heart beat wildly. (2) :  tick the beating of a clockb :  to sound upon being struck the sound of a beating drum

  11. 3a :  to strike repeated blows beating on the door … their air attack still beating upon us … — Sir Winston Churchillb :  to strike the air :  flap The bird's wings beat frantically.c hunting :  to strike bushes or other cover in order to rouse game; also :  to range or scour for or as if for game

  12. 4 :  to progress with much difficulty

  13. 5 nautical :  to sail to windward by a series of zigzag movements beating along the coast

beatable

play \ˈbē-tə-bəl\ adjective

beat about the bush

or

beat around the bush

  1. :  to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.

beat a retreat

  1. :  to leave in haste

beat it

  1. 1 :  to hurry away :  scram

  2. 2 :  hurry, rush

beat one's brains out

  1. :  to try intently to resolve something difficult by thinking I beat my brains out trying to figure it out.

beat the bushes

  1. :  to search thoroughly through all possible areas

beat the drum

  1. :  to proclaim as meritorious or significant :  publicize vigorously beating the drum for their candidate

beat the pants off

  1. :  to defeat or surpass overwhelmingly We vowed to beat the pants off them next time.

beat the rap

  1. :  to escape or evade the penalties connected with an accusation or charge

beat up on

  1. :  to attack physically or verbally She was getting beat up on by her critics.

to beat the band

  1. :  in a very energetic or forceful manner talking away to beat the band

See beat defined for English-language learners

See beat defined for kids

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Examples of beat in a Sentence

  1. He beat the dust out of the rug with a stick.

  2. She used a hammer to beat the metal into shape.

  3. She used a hammer to beat the nail into the wall.

  4. The dented metal was beaten flat.

  5. The waves were beating the shore.

  6. He beat at the door with his fists.

  7. The waves were beating on the shore.

  8. The rain beat on the roof.

  9. They beat him with clubs.

  10. a man accused of beating his wife

Origin and Etymology of beat

Middle English beten, from Old English bēatan; akin to Old High German bōzan to beat


First Known Use: before 12th century

beat Synonyms

Synonyms
bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib [British], flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop (or whap), whup, work over, beat up on, get the better of, knock for a loop
Antonyms
lose (to)
Related Words
assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp; blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap; gore, lacerate, wound; maim, mangle, mutilate
Near Antonyms
fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out
2

beat

noun

Definition of beat

  1. 1a :  a single stroke or blow especially in a series a single beat on a drum; also :  pulsation, tickb :  a sound produced by or as if by beating (see 1beat) dance to the beat of the drums listening to the beat of his heartc :  a driving impact or force … the full force of the surf beat … — Joyce Allan … the fierce beat of the eastern sun. — T. B. Costain

  2. 2 :  one swing of the pendulum or balance (see 1balance 4) of a timepiece

  3. 3a :  a regularly traversed round (see 3round 6a) a cop patrolling her beatb journalism :  a group of news sources that a reporter covers regularly a reporter on the beat

  4. 4a :  a metrical or rhythmic stress in poetry or music or the rhythmic effect of these stresses four beats per bar keeping a steady beatb music :  the tempo indicated (as by a conductor) to a musical performerc music :  the pronounced rhythm (see rhythm 2b) that is the characteristic driving force in some types of music (such as jazz or rock) music with a Latin beat; also :  2rock 2

  5. 5a :  one that excels I've never seen the beat of itb journalism :  the reporting of a news story ahead of competitors

  6. 6 :  deadbeat

  7. 7 nautical a :  an act of sailing toward the side or direction from which the wind is blowing by a series of zigzag movements :  an act of beating (see 1beat intransitive 5) to windwardb :  one of the reaches (see 2reach 1) in the zigzag course so traversed :  tack

  8. 8 physics :  each of the pulsations of amplitude (see amplitude 1a) produced by the union of sound or radio waves or electric currents having different frequencies

  9. 9 dance :  an accented stroke (as of one leg or foot against the other)

  10. 10 :  moment waited a beat before responding

beatless

play \-ləs\ adjective

miss a beat

  1. chiefly US :  to have difficulty in continuing :  to stop or hesitate briefly —often used in negative constructions A few minutes later, the power cuts out …, but Achmed doesn't miss a beat; clearly, he's used to this. — Eric Weiner

Origin and Etymology of beat

noun derivative of 1beat


First Known Use: circa 1625

3

beat

adjective

Definition of beat

  1. 1a :  being in a state of exhaustion :  exhausted Sometimes I'd be so beat that I'd flop down and go to sleep fully dressed. — Polly Adlerb :  sapped of resolution or morale

  2. 2 often capitalized [earliest in beat generation; perhaps in part by association with 2beat in sense “pronounced rhythm” or -beat in 1deadbeat] :  of, relating to, or being beatniks beat poets

See beat defined for English-language learners

Examples of beat in a Sentence

  1. Let me sit down. I'm absolutely beat!

  2. can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?

Origin and Etymology of beat

from past participle of 1beat


First Known Use: 1800

beat Synonyms

Synonyms
all in, aweary [archaic], weary, beaten, bleary, burned-out (or burnt-out), bushed, dead, done, done in, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, knackered [British], limp, logy (also loggy), played out, pooped [slang], prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, wiped out, worn, worn-out
Antonyms
unwearied
Related Words
overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked; broken-down, run-down; debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, sapped, weakened; drowsy, heavy, sleepy; lethargic, sluggish
Near Antonyms
fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized; active, energetic, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, strong, tireless, vitalized, weariless
4

beat

noun, often capitalized

Definition of beat

  1. :  beatnik

Origin and Etymology of beat

from 3beat in beat generation, or by shortening of beatnik


First Known Use: 1957

BEAT Defined for English Language Learners

beat

play
verb

Definition of beat for English Language Learners

  • : to hit (something) repeatedly

  • : to hit (someone) repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury

  • : to hit (a drum) repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal

beat

adjective

Definition of beat for English Language Learners

  • : very tired

BEAT Defined for Kids

1

beat

play
verb \ˈbēt\

Definition of beat for Students

beat

;

beaten

\ˈbē-tən\ or

beat

;

beating

  1. 1 :  to hit or strike again and again beat a drum waves beating the shore

  2. 2 :  to hit repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury They beat him with sticks. —often used with up Little Dusty froze as the older boys quarreled. He knew Johnny could beat up Dove any time he chose. — Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain

  3. 3 :  to mix by stirring rapidly beat eggs

  4. 4 :  to win against :  defeat beat the enemy

  5. 5 :  to come, arrive, or act before I beat him to the finish line.

  6. 6 :  1throb 3, pulsate Her heart was still beating.

  7. 7 :  to flap against wings beating the air

  8. 8 :  to move with an up and down motion :  flap The bird beat its wings.

  9. 9 :  to do or be better than You can't beat that for fun.

  10. 10 :  to be beyond the understanding of It beats me how she does it.

  11. 11 :  to make by walking or riding over beat a path

beater

noun

beat it

  1. :  to go away quickly

2

beat

play
noun

Definition of beat for Students

  1. 1 :  a blow or a stroke made again and again

  2. 2 :  a single pulse (as of the heart)

  3. 3 :  a sound produced by or as if by beating the beat of drums the beat of waves against the rock

  4. 4 :  a measurement of time in music :  an accent or regular pattern of accents in music or poetry

  5. 5 :  an area or place regularly visited or traveled through as part of a job a police officer's beat

3

beat

play
adjective

Definition of beat for Students

  1. :  very tired

Medical Dictionary

1

beat

play
intransitive verb \ˈbēt\

Medical Definition of beat

beat

;

beaten

\ˈbēt-ən\play or

beat

;

beating

  1. :  pulsate, throb

2

beat

noun

Medical Definition of beat

  1. :  a single stroke or pulsation (as of the heart) ectopic beats—see extrasystole

Learn More about beat

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for beat Spanish Central: Translation of beat Nglish: Translation of beat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of beat for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beat

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play

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Examples: beat in a Sentence