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

The prosecutor argued the beatings basically never stopped, claiming footage showed nannies beating one child, then turning their violence toward any of the other toddlers who wept while watching. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

An hour before a ball was even kicked on Sunday afternoon, the beating of drums and chanting from the River Guard supporters group could be heard loud and clear from the locker rooms at the Boas Soccer Complex. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026

Sara Qudah, who handles the Middle East for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said Levine's beating was not an isolated incident for journalists covering the West Bank olive harvest. — Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 16 Oct. 2026

According to the indictment, detainees were subjected to electric shocks, simulated drowning, beatings, asphyxiation, sleep deprivation and threats against their relatives. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 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