beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ How to pronounce beating (audio)
1
: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage
also : the injury or damage thus inflicted
2
3

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Two days after the beating, Ventura had to walk the red carpet for the premiere of her movie, The Perfect Match. Danielle Bacher, People.com, 20 May 2025 Richard said that the beatings continued in the car on the way home after the dinner. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 19 May 2025 Casandra Ventura, the singer and model known as Cassie, told a jury in Manhattan on Wednesday that her life with Sean Combs had its moments, but was largely filled with beatings, threatened blackmail and even a rape. Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 15 May 2025 When the beating ended, the group loaded Ortiz into the bed of a pickup truck and dumped him in a ditch, the station reported. Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for beating

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beating was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beating. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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