beating

1 of 2

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ 

1

: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage

also : the injury or damage thus inflicted

2

: pulsation

3

: defeat, setback

beating

2 of 2

present participle of beat entry 1

Synonyms of beating

Noun

• pulse
• throb
• beat

Examples of beating in a Sentence

Noun

he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart

took a beating and ended up in second place

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This came shortly before South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) determined 38-19 was a suitable-enough beating. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

The allegations include electric shocks, beatings and asphyxiation at Maduro’s behest. — Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Does a smack on the bottom—or an angry, ostensibly protective shove away from a hot stove—constitute a beating? — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026

Darien Ramsey, 62, was convicted in connection with the beating that killed 55-year-old Mark Jennings, according to the District Attorney's Office. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English betynge, from gerund of beten "to beat entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beating

• beating reed
• breast-beating
• take a beating
• take some beating
• world-beating

Rhymes for beating

• bleating
• cheating
• eating
• fleeting
• greeting
• heating
• meeting
• seating
• sheeting
• sweeting
• treating
• accreting