beat 1 of 3

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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

2 of 3

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

beat

3 of 3

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
New York’s backup quarterback was perceived to be responding to comments made by Denver head coach Payton after the Broncos’ dramatic fourth quarter comeback to beat the Giants on Sunday. Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025 Days later, the Chiefs held the Raiders to three first downs and 95 yards of offense in a 31-0 beat down. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Amir Mahmoud is a general assignment and transportation beat reporter at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2025 Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine. Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Those submissions—we’ve received thousands since this list first launched—are then analyzed and supplemented by reporting from beat journalists at Forbes and Know Your Value. Maggie McGrath, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025 In a miracle from the beat gods, workers on site were able to clear out the piles of debris and construct a new stage to host the fest’s headliners overnight, giving Nervo, Axwell, Martin Garrix, Alok and others a place to perform on night one. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
  • Collins is no doubt licking his chops studying tape of another Patriots rookie, left guard Jared Wilson, who allowed two sacks last weekend.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Soon, orange-red flames began to lick the wall and the roof’s open eaves.
    Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Glo clearly brought good luck to the game, seeing as the Raptors defeated the Hawks 138-118.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
  • In these sparsely populated spaces, the mountain always defeats the human, instilling a deep respect for the environment.
    Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And the 39-point advantage goes down as the Heat’s biggest halftime lead in franchise history, surpassing a 34-point halftime lead against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 29, 2024.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
  • At the beginning of summer, for the first time in months, my daily step count surpassed a mile.
    Lucinda Rosenfeld, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That’s why my leg is throbbing.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The first movie squeaked by thanks largely to its creation of a CG parallel universe of neon graphics, geometric lines and throbbing grids that was genuinely innovative for its time.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Bolas spider creates a silk lasso to catch fluttering moths.
    Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Novo Nordisk flags flutter outside their office in Bagsvaerd, on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark, July 14, 2025.
    Annika Kim Constantino,Bertha Coombs, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Faye is both highly supportive yet frustrated by the distant Springsteen, who showers her with love before disappearing into his music.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
  • So when Luise was frustrated by her experiments with canvas one afternoon at MacDowell and threw her scraps into her studio’s fireplace, Morton was there to witness the epiphany that followed.
    Grace Edquist, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As Robbie's actions target stash houses run by the notorious Dark Hearts motorcycle gang, a deadly turf war erupts, escalating tensions in the city and drawing both law enforcement and criminal factions into a high-stakes battle over control, survival and justice.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Payton lost his mind, running onto the field, drawing a penalty.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Shaped like glowing maple leaves, the six-piece set brings all the cozy fall vibes while brightening up driveways, walkways, and garden paths.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The Emerald Cave glows bright green when sunlight hits the water just right.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.

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