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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 surfer team couldn’t handle it, with Servite beating the Chargers 16-6 in the Pac-5 championship game. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 Back-to-back home runs by Bregman and Michael Busch during Anderson’s third time through the order put the Cubs in position to beat the Mariners. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
The group moved to the beat in a slow circle, with Cordell at the center. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Bulldogs best of the SEC The beat goes on for Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
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 Bass began his career as a beat reporter covering feature stories through the mid-80s. — Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 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
  • Owners should also watch for licking that is sudden, persistent or severe enough to cause hair loss or skin damage.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Photos like the one below show children licking massive ice blocks for a slight reprieve from the summer heat.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of lick
Verb
  • Sending a message to a friend in the same city seems, at least in my opinion, to defeat the purpose.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Against this testing backdrop, Jakirovic guided Hull to an incredible promotion, defeating Middlesbrough 1-0 in May’s play-off final after finishing sixth in the regular campaign.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Worth more than world’s 500 richest people combined Entrepreneur Elon Musk made headlines in June when his net worth surpassed $1 trillion after the SpaceX initial public offering.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Monthly trading volumes surpassed $37 billion in July, boosted by the World Cup.
    — Carson Becker, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of surpass
Verb
  • The first is pique, a sharp, vinegary hot sauce that throbs with the heat of Thai chiles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • There have been plenty of times when my feet throbbed after hours of sightseeing.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026
Definition of throb
Verb
  • These days, Jackson and her drag king character live in Ramsgate, a port town on England’s southeast coast where – much like Pat’s flag – strings of Union Jacks flutter along the harbor.
    — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For Arbaeen, the lights inside the shrine and the flags fluttering from its golden dome are switched to red – the color of vengeance.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of flutter
Verb
  • During the delay, television cameras captured the Blue Jays waiting and visibly frustrated by the delay, with Scherzer among the players reacting to what was happening.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • North is frustrated with Jasper County officials, specifically the commissioners, for pushing the project through.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrate
Verb
  • South Florida's congressional races are also drawing attention following redistricting.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Anthony, out since May with a torn finger ligament, appeared in his first rehab game for Double-A Portland on Tuesday, crushing a two-run homer while also drawing two walks and adding a single as DH.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of draw
Verb
  • Off the field, feedback is glowing regarding his mental comprehension and how his preparation translates to game day.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Kansas City’s most iconic sign is glowing in the skyline once again.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 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 24 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beat

Nglish: Translation of beat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beat

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