beat

1 to strike repeatedly they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine Synonyms bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib [British], flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop (or whap), whup, work over Related Words assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp; blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap; gore, lacerate, wound; maim, mangle, mutilate Phrases beat up on

2 to achieve a victory over she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess Synonyms best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down [British], get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst Related Words sweep; edge (out), nose out, pip [British]; annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke [slang], snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax [slang], whip; cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed; knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish; ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend Phrases get the better of, knock for a loop Near Antonyms fall, give up, go down, go under; collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out Antonyms lose (to)

3 to be greater, better, or stronger than this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation Synonyms surpass, better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgun, outmatch, outshine, outstrip, overtop, top, tower (over), transcendRelated Words one-up, outpace, outrace, outrun, overpass; best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, outcompete, outperform, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst; outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trumpNear Antonyms lose (to)

4 to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute Synonyms pulsate, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulse, throbRelated Words fluctuate, oscillate, vibrate; quiver, tremble

5 to move or cause to move with a striking motion the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air Synonyms flap, flail, flop, flutter, whipRelated Words bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump; flick, flicker, flit; fan, oscillate, sway, swing; undulate, wave; palpitate, pulse, throb

6 to prevent from achieving a goal you beat me to it Synonyms baffle, balk, frustrate, checkmate, discomfit, foil, thwartRelated Words bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel; arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop; avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent; negate, neutralize, nullify; counteract, offset; conquer, defeat, overcomeNear Antonyms abet, aid, assist; ease, facilitate, smoothAntonyms advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote

7 to shape with a hammer the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords Synonyms hammer, draw, forge, poundRelated Words chase, planish; fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work; coin, mint, stamp; abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

8 to shine with a bright harsh light the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy Synonyms glare, blaze, burn, flame, flareRelated Words beam, glow, radiate; flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle