cheat

play

verb \ˈchēt\

Definition of cheat

transitive verb
1 : to deprive of something valuable by the use of deceit or fraud cheated the elderly couple out of their property
2 : to influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice a young man who cheated young women into marrying him when he was already married
3 : to elude or thwart by or as if by outwitting cheat death
intransitive verb
1a : to practice fraud or trickery denied the accusation that he cheatedb : to violate rules dishonestly cheat at cards cheating on a test
2 : to be sexually unfaithful —usually used with on was cheating on his wife
3 : to position oneself defensively near a particular area in anticipation of a play in that area the shortstop was cheating toward second base

cheater

noun

See cheat defined for English-language learners

See cheat defined for kids

Examples of cheat in a Sentence

The players were accused of cheating.
I had to cheat in order to solve the puzzle.
The store cheats its customers through false advertising.
They cheated him out of a fair deal.
a heroin addict who has cheated death many times

Origin and Etymology of cheat

²cheat

NEW!

First Known Use: 1590

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of cheat

cheat, cozen, defraud, swindle mean to get something by dishonesty or deception. cheat suggests using trickery that escapes observation. cheated me out of a dollar cozen implies artful persuading or flattering to attain a thing or a purpose. always able to cozen her grandfather out of a few dollars defraud stresses depriving one of his or her rights and usually connotes deliberate perversion of the truth. defrauded of her inheritance by an unscrupulous lawyer swindle implies large-scale cheating by misrepresentation or abuse of confidence. swindled of their savings by con artists

cheat

noun

Definition of cheat

1 : the act or an instance of fraudulently deceiving : deception, fraud His financial activity turned out to be a great cheat.
2 or cheat code : a code (such as a button combination or password) that activates a hidden feature or capability in a computer or video game In fact, some game levels are so tough that I had to resort to cheats to get through. — Peter Cohen Most people think that using a cheat code is the only way to earn a dishonest reward … — Christopher Breen
3 : one that cheats : pretender, deceiver is a liar and a cheat tax cheats
4 [probably from a deceptive resemblance to grain] a : chess 1b : cheatgrass
5 : the obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth

See cheat defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of cheat

earlier cheat forfeited property, from Middle English chet escheat, short for eschete — more at escheat

NEW!

First Known Use: 1615

See Words from the same year

CHEAT Defined for English Language Learners

cheat

play

verb

Definition of cheat for English Language Learners

: to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something
: to take something from (someone) by lying or breaking a rule
: to prevent (someone) from having something that he or she deserves or was expecting to get

cheat

noun

Definition of cheat for English Language Learners

: a person who cheats

CHEAT Defined for Kids

cheat

play

verb \ˈchēt\

Definition of cheat for Students

cheated

;

cheating

1 : to use unfair or dishonest methods to gain an advantage cheat on a test cheat at cards
2 : to take something away from or keep from having something by dishonest tricks “Old Mr. Peterson was cheated of his money by a dishonest agent …” — Janet Shaw, Meet Kirsten