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

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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
Last year, the Warriors made the playoffs, beat the Rockets in seven games and advanced to the second round before losing to the Timberwolves. Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The Republicans are not going to beat Ned Lamont with tiny baby steps. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Of recent, the actor—now finally finished her mammoth press run—was spotted in Saint-Tropez embracing a distinctly off-beat, anti-boho aesthetic in pooling denim jeans avec a matching bucket hat and brown leather jacket. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2026 Paul said, 'Maybe the extra beat is for Rob. Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Past that, the Xavier school looks pretty beat to hell in the scenes before that. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 6 Jan. 2026 Shopping around Macy’s beat Wall Street’s top- and bottom-line expectations for the third quarter this morning, posting its strongest growth in more than three years. Alex Harring, CNBC, 3 Dec. 2025
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
Before last week's first leg, Barcelona beat Atletico 2-1 in Madrid in a Spanish league game on April 4. ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 And, yes, Houston hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record in a month. Law Murray, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Noun
  • Sheehan managed to keep the Rockies from landing the big blow.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The Senate’s quick passage of the 10-day patch was starkly different than the House’s rare overnight session, during which House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was dealt two consecutive blows.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After cooling atomic clocks that trap single ions such as aluminum and ytterbium to absolute zero, the researchers manipulated their quantum states with laser pulses.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
  • The Non-Partisan Committee ran only one forum as the public pulse beat was undetectable.
    Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In the course of the narrative, as John is embraced by friends and assaulted by strangers, Jones’s storytelling veers between breakthroughs and setbacks with a rhythm so mechanical as to verge on metronomic.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
  • For an Orlando attack trying to establish a consistent rhythm, Saturday offers a chance to capitalize on a leaky defense and gain ground in the Eastern Conference standings.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Anna Moorhouse The goalkeeper is getting regular minutes for Orlando Pride and also started in the 8-0 win over China in November, so seems Hampton’s backup.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Clutch scoring is defined as points that come in the final five minutes of a game where the point differential between teams is five or less.
    Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
    Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Reigns hit Punk with a Superman punch.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The new report also tracked an increase in antisemitic attacks that resulted in physical harm, including beatings and stone throwing.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Chicago police and Cook County Crime Stoppers are searching for the three men and a woman pictured above in connection with the deadly beating of a man in Avondale on March 25.
    Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These events are very brief, often only a few hours, and NGRST will repeatedly observe the same locations at a 15-minute cadence, providing the opportunity to capture much of the curve of the brightening and dimming.
    JOHN TIMMER, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The stride length and cadence were tuned for efficiency over distance.
    Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • One of the challenges of this new novel was matching its heartbeat to the rhythm of the islands.
    Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • And in this new quiet, his heartbeat seemed broadcast in stereo.
    Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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