beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ How to pronounce beating (audio)
1
: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage
also : the injury or damage thus inflicted
2
3

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 Gage Garrison, 19, was charged earlier this year in beatings at a house party and a parking garage, which occurred within two weeks of each other in December 2022. Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024 Rodney King’s beating, the resulting riots, California’s death penalty and even O.J. Simpson’s arrest and acquittal all swirled around the brothers’ time in the spotlight. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 19 Sep. 2024 That said, heart palpitations are the general awareness of one's heart beating. Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 19 Sep. 2024 The three men, along with two other former Memphis officers, Demetrius Haley and Desmond Mills, have been indicted for their role in the violent beating of Nichols following a traffic stop on Jan. 7, 2023. Muri Assuncao, The Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beating 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beating was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near beating

Cite this Entry

“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beating. Accessed 3 Oct. 2024.

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