beat 1 of 3

verb

ˈbēt How to pronounce beat (audio)
Definition of beatnext
1
as in to lick
to strike repeatedly they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine

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2
as in to defeat
to achieve a victory over she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess

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3
as in to surpass
to be greater, better, or stronger than this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation

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4
as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute

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5
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air

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6
as in to frustrate
to prevent from achieving a goal you beat me to it

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7
as in to draw
to shape with a hammer the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords

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8
as in to glow
to shine with a bright harsh light the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy

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9
as in to drum
to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically beat the drum in a marching rhythm

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10
as in to confuse
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty it beats me how that slipup happened

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11
as in to circumvent
to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness he spends all of his time trying to beat the system

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12
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust

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13
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits

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beat

2 of 3

noun

1
as in blow
a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument delivered one hard beat on the drums

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2
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

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3
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

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4
as in minute
a very small space of time within a beat he was on the phone complaining about an error in his bill

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beat

3 of 3

adjective

as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?

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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
The fourth concluded with Willis’ second costly lost fumble in two weeks, after Dallas Turner beat Austin Jackson. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 Alcaraz hasn’t played a final since getting beat by Jannik Sinner at the Monte Carlo Masters in April. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
Much of the Red Barn’s irreplaceable art and ephemera, meticulously and lovingly curated over the years, was lost — but the music series, powered by the fireproof resiliency of those who oversee the collective, barely skipped a beat. — Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026 In another series, in another era, those developments might have led to teachable moments and inspiring speeches, and the most bittersweet beats of the series are the ones that suggest how a happier ending could have come to pass. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Identifying the problems that plague a team is part of a beat writer’s job. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Since joining the publication, O’Connell had been on THR’s television team, where his role evolved from beat reporter to features TV editor. — Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
  1. lick
  2. defeat
  3. surpass
  4. throb
  5. flutter
  6. frustrate
  7. draw
  8. glow
Verb
  • The Sox move on to Cleveland while the Cubs come home to lick their wounds.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Bombers beat the Red Sox 9-2 in Game 2 after winning the series opening game 9-0, sending New England’s hardball heroes home to lick their wounds until next spring.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Newsom defeated the recall attempt after nearly 62% voted to keep him in office.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Raiders rallied from a two-score deficit to defeat the New Orleans Saints 35-27, also improving to 3-0.
    — Pete Sweeney October 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Supporters collected more than 1 million petition signatures in support of the measure, surpassing the 874,641 needed to qualify.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Just over 24 hours after its release, Panteón Rococó’s Tiny Desk session had already surpassed 1 million views on YouTube.
    — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of surpass
Verb
  • Her voice, usually an attention-demanding force, is detached from the throbbing production.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Just two days later, Aitia was sitting in class when his newly pierced ear began throbbing with pain.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of throb
Verb
  • But no sooner did the words leave his mouth than the man’s eyelids fluttered open.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Of course, her arms matched the uninterrupted movement of her hair, fluttering in front of the cameras.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of flutter
Verb
  • To make matters worse, companies like Target—frustrated by an underdeveloped Southeast Asian factory ecosystem—are moving supply chains back to China.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • When a batter gets thrown out at second base for trying to turn a single into a double, fans get frustrated.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • The film follows a homeowner locked in a standoff with his contractor over the last payment for a renovation, a dispute drawn from Niu Jianrong’s own experience.
    — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Ecuador, Peru, and Chile draw nature enthusiasts seeking soft or active adventure; and each of these destinations is also often found on the lists of must-see places for the well-traveled.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of draw
Verb
  • Acupressure targets specific points, including spots roughly a finger’s length below your pupils and beside your nose, which NuFace says can promote a glowing complexion by improving circulation.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Frøya takes a botanical route to glow and tone instead, leaning on sea buckthorn and rosehip instead.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of glow

Phrases Containing beat

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beasts
beat
beat a retreat
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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beat

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