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

The three men say in court filings that they were subjected to severe beatings, electric shocks, prolonged isolation, stress positions and other forms of physical and psychological abuse while imprisoned in Venezuela. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

That's even truer if your body is taking a further beating from the mountain biking, skiing, surfing, kiteboarding, climbing or other serious physical activities that await at your destination. — New Atlas, 21 July 2026

For the last three decades, the division has investigated allegations of police misconduct, authority it was granted by Congress after the 1991 beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department officers. — Ben Wieder, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

When giant hailstones start falling, or howling winter winds threaten to tear solar panels from the roof, the unprotected modules can do nothing but take the beating. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 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