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¹beat

verb \ˈbēt\

: to hit (something) repeatedly

: to hit (someone) repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury

: to hit (a drum) repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal

beatbeat·en \ˈbē-t^ən\ or beatbeat·ing

Full Definition of BEAT

transitive verb

: to strike repeatedly:

a : to hit repeatedly so as to inflict pain —often used with up

b : to walk on : tread <beat the pavement looking for work>

c : to strike directly against forcefully and repeatedly : dash against

d : to flap or thrash at vigorously

e : to strike at in order to rouse game; also : to range over in or as if in quest of game

f : to mix by stirring : whip —often used with up

g : to strike repeatedly in order to produce music or a signal <beat a drum>

a : to drive or force by blows <beat back his attackers>

b : to pound into a powder, paste, or pulp

c : to make by repeated treading or driving over <beat a path>

d (1) : to dislodge by repeated hitting <beat dust from the carpet> (2) : to lodge securely by repeated striking <beat a stake into the ground>

e : to shape by beating <beat swords into plowshares>; especially : to flatten thin by blows

f : to sound or express especially by drumbeat

: to cause to strike or flap repeatedly <a bird beating its wings>

a : overcome, defeat; also : surpass —often used with out

b : to prevail despite <beat the odds>

c : bewilder, baffle <it beats me how she does it>

d (1) : fatigue, exhaust (2) : to leave dispirited, irresolute, or hopeless

e : cheat, swindle

a (1) : to act ahead of usually so as to forestall (2) : to report a news item in advance of

b : to come or arrive before

c : circumvent <beat the system>

d : to outmaneuver (a defender) and get free

e : to score against (a goalkeeper)

: to indicate by beating <beat the tempo>

intransitive verb

a : to become forcefully impelled : dash

b : to glare or strike with oppressive intensity

c : to sustain distracting activity

d : to beat a drum

a (1) : pulsate, throb (2) : tick

b : to sound upon being struck

a : to strike repeated blows <beating on the door>

b : to strike the air : flap

c : to strike cover in order to rouse game; also : to range or scour for or as if for game

: to progress with much difficulty

: to sail to windward by a series of tacks

— beat·able \ˈbē-tə-bəl\ adjective

— beat about the bush or beat around the bush

: to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse

— beat a retreat

: to leave in haste

— beat it

: to hurry away : scram

: hurry, rush

— beat one's brains out

: to try intently to resolve something difficult by thinking

— beat the bushes

: to search thoroughly through all possible areas

— beat the drum

: to proclaim as meritorious or significant : publicize vigorously

— beat the pants off

: to defeat or surpass overwhelmingly

— beat the rap

: to evade the penalties connected with an accusation or charge

— beat up on

: to attack physically or verbally

— to beat the band

: in a very energetic or forceful manner <talking away to beat the band>

See beat defined for English-language learners

See beat defined for kids

Origin of BEAT

Middle English beten, from Old English bēatan; akin to Old High German bōzan to beat

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BEAT

Synonyms: bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib [British], flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop, whale, whip, whop (or whap), whup, work over, beat up on, get the better of, knock for a loop

Antonyms: lose (to)

²beat

noun

Definition of BEAT

a : a single stroke or blow especially in a series; also : pulsation, tick

b : a sound produced by or as if by beating

c : a driving impact or force

: one swing of the pendulum or balance of a timepiece

a : a regularly traversed round <the cop on the beat>

b : a group of news sources that a reporter covers regularly

a : a metrical or rhythmic stress in poetry or music or the rhythmic effect of these stresses

b : the tempo indicated (as by a conductor) to a musical performer

c : the pronounced rhythm that is the characteristic driving force in some types of music (as jazz or rock); also : ²rock 2

a : one that excels <I've never seen the beat of it>

b : the reporting of a news story ahead of competitors

: deadbeat

a : an act of beating to windward

b : one of the reaches so traversed : tack

: each of the pulsations of amplitude produced by the union of sound or radio waves or electric currents having different frequencies

: an accented stroke (as of one leg or foot against the other) in dancing

: moment <waited a beat before responding>

— beat·less \-ləs\ adjective

First Known Use of BEAT

circa 1625

³beat

adjective

: very tired

Full Definition of BEAT

a : being in a state of exhaustion : exhausted

b : sapped of resolution or morale

often capitalized : of, relating to, or being beatniks <beat poets>

See beat defined for English-language learners

Origin of BEAT

Middle English beten, bete, from past participle of beten

First Known Use: 1800

Related to BEAT

Synonyms: all in, aweary [archaic], weary, beaten, bleary, burned-out (or burnt-out), bushed, dead, done, done in, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, knackered [British], limp, logy (also loggy), played out, pooped [slang], prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, wiped out, worn, worn-out

Antonyms: unwearied

⁴beat

noun, often capitalized

Definition of BEAT

: beatnik

First Known Use of BEAT

1957

BEAT Defined for Kids

¹beat

verb \ˈbēt\

beatbeat·en \ˈbē-t^ən\ or beatbeat·ing

Definition of BEAT for Kids

: to hit or strike again and again <beat a drum> <waves beating the shore>

: to hit repeatedly in order to cause pain or injury <They beat him with sticks.> —often used with up <Little Dusty froze as the older boys quarreled. He knew Johnny could beat up Dove any time he chose. — Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain>

: to mix by stirring rapidly <beat eggs>

: to win against : defeat <beat the enemy>

: to come, arrive, or act before <I beat him to the finish line.>

: ¹throb 3, pulsate <Her heart was still beating.>

: to flap against <wings beating the air>

: to move with an up and down motion : flap <The bird beat its wings.>

: to do or be better than <You can't beat that for fun.>

: to be beyond the understanding of <It beats me how she does it.>

: to make by walking or riding over <beat a path>

— beat·er noun

— beat it

: to go away quickly