beat 1 of 3

Definition of beatnext
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as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

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beat

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noun

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as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in rhythm
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity moved to the beat of the music

Synonyms & Similar Words

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beat

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adjective

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of beat
Verb
Cortisol and adrenaline flood the body, inducing the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, senses to heighten—all to prepare our body for fight or flight. Dr. Deepika Chopra, Flow Space, 16 June 2026 During enslavement, physical violence, such as being beaten with whips, was used to control Black bodies. Nia Dumas, NPR, 16 June 2026
Noun
O’Connor matches her beat for beat as the man who knew too much and knows the only way out of his head is to get it to every living person on the planet all at once. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 9 June 2026 As her third year gets underway, Clark has had to contend with distractions, including rumors of a rift with head coach Stephanie White and an injury-report incident in which a Fever beat reporter’s credentials were revoked. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Adjective
Bass began his career as a beat reporter covering feature stories through the mid-80s. Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
  • Chalk it up to a bad match, and lick your wounds.
    Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
  • Affected animals transfer rabies by biting, licking or scratching other animals and humans.
    Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • The Sooners clinched their CWS appearance by defeating the Kansas Jayhawks twice in the Lawrence Super Regional.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
  • On Thursday, spurred on by most of the 80,824 fans in attendance and forwards Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, Mexico managed to defeat South Africa 2-0 and securing its first opening match victory.
    Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • None of the Senate candidates surpassed the 50% threshold required to win, and Ossoff and Warnock headed to a January 2021 runoff against their Republican opponents.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 18 June 2026
  • JioHotstar surpassed $1 billion in revenue last year and is on track to surpass YouTube in total revenue by year’s end.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • My calves and thighs often throbbed, my waist ached and my knees swelled.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • The piece has to throb and, well, that is not the first verb that comes to mind in director Jonathan Butterell’s production, with all due respect for the sincerity of the effort and the intermittent effectiveness of the storytelling.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • The two were often seen with what appeared to be unwashed, exposed roots that fluttered into beach waves down their backs.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
  • Roswell visitors spent the weekend surrounded by fluttering wings, native plants, and hands-on learning as the Chattahoochee Nature Center kicked off its annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival.
    CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • The move royally frustrated Senate Republicans.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Who wouldn’t be frustrated after watching a team leave more than 30 runners on base over the last few days?
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • But a World Cup viewing party at the El Jardin restaurant drew a trio of Swiss fans to watch as their country took on Qatar just up the road in Santa Clara.
    John Ramos, CBS News, 14 June 2026
  • Brunson continued his magnificent game with a drive that drew a foul, sinking both free throws to cut the lead down to two with five minutes to go.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The glowing green letters emerge ominously against a dark backdrop.
    M. Gessen, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
  • Pedestrians swerve between packs of police, horns honk at teenagers blocking the street, neon restaurant signs glow.
    Taylor Swinton, Washington Post, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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