beat 1 of 5

Definition of beatnext
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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

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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

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adjective (1)

beaten

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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
Lopez’s three-run home run helped the Trojans beat Texas A&M 7-1 to reach the NCAA super regionals for the first time in 21 years. Jose De Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026 Credo also shared current-quarter revenue guidance that beat the consensus forecast. Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 June 2026
Noun
This glitzy new take comes from a trio — Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen providing the music and Kait Kerrigan the book — who largely follow the main beats of the novel. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026 Half a day walking, sitting and eating beats a checklist. Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026
Adjective
Bass began his career as a beat reporter covering feature stories through the mid-80s. Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Those who were laid off include Caroline O’Donovan, the Post’s beat reporter covering Amazon. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Add the beaten egg, a pinch of salt and pepper, and mix thoroughly. Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Dec. 2025 Customarily, it is served cold in whisper-thin slices, sidled by beaten biscuits, yeast rolls, or rye bread. Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2025
Verb
When Jamie tried to stop him, his stepdad kicked him in the stomach, threw him against a wall, beat him with a belt, etc. Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Between Costco's membership model and bulk selling strategy, few, if any, can beat it on value. Kevin Stankiewicz,zev Fima, CNBC, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
  • When the tiffin is returned licked clean, Ila sends another meal but with a note, leading to a rich correspondence between the two.
    David John Chávez, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
  • Just outside the room, Hadley eagerly licked it up.
    Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • The food, beverage, pharmaceutical, chemical, and agribusiness lobbies do not need to defeat MAHA in public debate.
    Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • But environmentalists and other stakeholders said giving too many concessions to fossil fuel interests would defeat the program’s purpose, which is to drive down emissions along a pathway consistent with what scientists say could preserve a recognizable climate.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Since 1990, the number of people living outside their country of birth has nearly doubled, surpassing 300 million worldwide in 2024.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2026
  • Industry sources expect month-over-month growth throughout the first year, with sales projected to surpass eight figures.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The collection consists of the sneaker brand’s UNO sneakers (which, PSA, are a fab Nike Air Max alternative), Arch Fit, and Slip-Ins—all of which include some of the most impressive cushioning and support, so your feet won’t throb after standing for hours in a field.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 19 Mar. 2026
  • The smoke kept rising and the clouds continued to throb with sickly yellow-and-black whorls until just after sunset, when the boiling mass of vapor suddenly turned pink and scarlet, like a poisonous flower opening its petals.
    New York Times, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Anderson said the warmth helps calm them down stops their eyes from fluttering.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
  • Advertisement Crossing an overpass into my western suburb of Baghdad, militia flags stamped with Ali Khamenei’s face fluttered in the wind.
    Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
Verb
  • Part of what fascinates and frustrates as regards Ginsberg is that for all of those thick anthologies, propriety forces me to concede that many of the poems simply aren’t that good.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
  • Some voters frustrated by gubernatorial race Tuesday was shaping up to be a busy day at the polls inside the brown brick Coloma Community Center.
    Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • The atmosphere surrounding the state championships was notably calmer than a year ago, when demonstrations over Hernandez’s participation drew national attention.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Jimmy Gunn had an infield single to load the bases before Ian Brooke drew a four-pitch walk to push across the go-ahead run.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • At Palisades State Park, striking red-pink Sioux quartzite cliffs jut up to 50 feet above Split Rock Creek, their jagged faces almost glowing against a backdrop of bucolic farmland.
    Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 4 June 2026
  • Although the building is gray and the galleries dark, the contents glow.
    Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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