beat 1 of 5

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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 5

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

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beat

3 of 5

adjective (1)

beaten

5 of 5

verb (2)

variants or beat
past participle of beat
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as in pulsed
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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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
According to the Almanac, summer 2024 was also Earth’s hottest summer since global records began in 1880 and this year could beat that record. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 2 May 2025 Her family said Robert had allegedly beaten Giuffre during a family trip in January, which left her with severe injuries. Kc Baker, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
Pair it with linen pants and espadrilles for a sightseeing day, then transition to sunset cocktails without missing a beat. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2025 Hernández Rojas died in May 2010 after federal authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry beat, Tased and knelt on him. Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Adjective
As for where Garrett might land, The Athletic's beat reporters explain why odds favor the Commanders and Eagles, followed closely by the Bills, Lions and Bears. Jacob Robinson, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 In season two, when Mike White’s series decamped to Sicily, the credits riffed on Italian frescoes that got increasingly debauched — with a beat drop from opera to EDM. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Remove and discard plastic wrap from rolls, and gently brush tops of rolls with some of the beaten egg. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023 Chee mashes the kernels with beaten egg, salt and a flourish of sugar that brings the flavor into focus but leaves no trace of sweetness. Ligaya Mishan Esther Choi, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Verb
The man had been severely beaten with a baseball bat and was suffering from injuries to his face and arm, federal authorities said. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025 If Liverpool beat Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday, the Carabao Cup will be Slot’s first trophy since replacing Jurgen Klopp nine months ago. Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Noun
  • President Donald Trump has failed to make Ed Martin the permanent U.S. prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., in what is a blow to his administration's goals.
    Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • The endorsement is also a blow to former Ohio State University football coach and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, who was considering entering the gubernatorial race, as well as Attorney General Dave Yost, who is running to succeed DeWine.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • Under $200: KitchenAid 3-Speed Ice Crushing Blender KitchenAid 3-Speed Ice Crushing Blender $200 Amazon $200 Sur la Table (With 2 Personal Blender Jars) $100 KitchenAid With three speeds plus a pulse setting, KitchenAid 3-Speed Ice Crushing Blender is simple and easy to use.
    Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • Mist it onto your pulse points (neck, wrists) or walk through a cloud of the sweetly warm fragrance.
    Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Go out early in one of those events and the choice is to wallow in the defeat for a week, perhaps longer, while losing rhythm — or to try and coax that rhythm back.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 8 May 2025
  • Across Europe, serene landscapes transform into bustling tourist attractions, shaped by the rhythms of modern tourism.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Epic Universe is located about 15 minutes away from Universal Orlando's existing parks.
    Samantha Neely, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • The visitors had never looked like getting back into the game after going 2-0 behind inside 18 minutes but, still, there’s always that doubt over how one goal could change everything.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • My heart thumps, in sync with the pitter-patter of feet on the ground.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Outlook Single Double Triple Homer Texas moved quickly to bring in Pederson after trading Nathaniel Lowe, sacrificing a lot of fielding value but maintaining similar left-handed thump for the lineup.
    Tim Britton, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was hospitalized in critical condition after the arrest and died three days later from injuries sustained during the beating.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 8 May 2025
  • Release of video of the beating sparked protests and vigils across the nation and calls for change within the Memphis Police Department.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, since the series moved to an every-other-day cadence, points have increased each contest, peaking at a combined 247 on Wednesday.
    The Athletic, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • From there, Lorenzen paired his fastball alongside his curveball and changeup to mix up his cadence.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • If your heart is more adaptable, there will be more variance in the milliseconds between heartbeats.
    Allison Tsai, Verywell Health, 5 May 2025
  • And now Orjan’s son, Patrick Berg, is the heartbeat of this Bodo/Glimt side, the most successful in history, winners of four of the last five Norwegian Eliteserien titles.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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