beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ 

1

: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage

also : the injury or damage thus inflicted

2

: pulsation

3

: defeat, setback

Synonyms of beating

• pulse
• throb
• beat

Examples of beating in a Sentence

he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart

took a beating and ended up in second place

Recent Examples on the Web

Kaelyn Hamilton tied the game at 35-35 on a fast-break layup with 59 seconds to go, then Panganiban put the Aztecs ahead with a buzzer-beating layup plus a free throw. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026

Minnesota and federal authorities are investigating the alleged beating of a Mexican citizen by immigration officers last month, seeking to identify what caused the eight skull fractures that landed the man in the intensive care unit of a Minneapolis hospital. —CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

The good ones, the ones with medals on the line, were met with what can only be described as an ominous beating gong. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

We are threatened with beatings and gunfire. —Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English betynge, from gerund of beten "to beat entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beating

• beating reed
• breast-beating
• take a beating
• take some beating
• world-beating

Rhymes for beating

• bleating
• cheating
• eating
• fleeting
• greeting
• heating
• meeting
• seating
• sheeting
• sweeting
• treating
• accreting