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
nounPeople Are Reading
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
Synonym Discussion of cheat
cheat
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
Origin and Etymology of cheat
earlier cheat forfeited property, from Middle English chet escheat, short for eschete — more at escheat
CHEAT Defined for English Language Learners
cheat
playDefinition of cheat for English Language Learners
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: to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something
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: to take something from (someone) by lying or breaking a rule
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: to prevent (someone) from having something that he or she deserves or was expecting to get
cheat
Definition of cheat for English Language Learners
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: a person who cheats
CHEAT Defined for Kids
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
cheater
\ˈchē-tər\ nounLearn More about cheat
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See words that rhyme with cheat Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cheat Spanish Central: Translation of cheat Nglish: Translation of cheat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cheat for Arabic speakers
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