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

Good morning, The Padres last night took their worst beating at Petco Park since before last year’s All-Star break. —Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2025

The update comes the same day all six individuals arrested in connection with the viral beating in downtown Cincinnati have been indicted by a grand jury and are facing additional charges. —Julia Bonavita , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito all have taken beatings behind the Giants’ offensive line, especially their reserves, in recent years. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 8 Aug. 2025

Court records show that Rosales was pending trial related to a Feb. 9, 2024 arrest at Oak Hill cemetery in which she and several others were accused of a group beating of a couple on the grounds, leading to two charges of assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. —Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 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