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

• 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

In July, after months of detention, which included routine beatings and other mistreatment, the men were released to Venezuela in a prisoner exchange. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025

Numerous investigations document violent beatings, and plant wools spare these gentle, clever animals from fear and abuse. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025

In a separate case in February, five Israeli reservists were charged over the beating and stabbing of a detainee, accused in an indictment of breaking the man’s ribs, puncturing his lung and tearing his rectum. —Daniele Hamamdjian, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2025

The ministry claimed that some of the bodies showed signs of abuse and beating, adding that the identification process is ongoing. —Callum Sutherland, Time, 16 Oct. 2025

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