beating

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

Synonyms of beating

• pulse
• throb
• beat

Examples of beating in a Sentence

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

Withey hit a buzzer-beating shot inside the paint to force overtime in the opening game of the series, a 90-87 Pelita Jaya Jakarta victory. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026

Two Elmwood jail inmates were convicted at trial of murdering another inmate in a vicious gang beating that was executed over the course of 11 agonizing minutes, and went undetected even as it was recorded on surveillance cameras. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026

The quakes hit as La Guaira was marking the feast of San Juan, an annual celebration featuring the ritual beating of drums. — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

According to Human Rights Watch, Taliban security forces responded with beatings, shots into the crowd, detentions of protesters, and the killing of at least one boy. — Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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