Beat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun adjective /ˈbēt/

Meaning & Definition of Beat

Beat (verb)

  1. to strike repeatedly:
  2. to hit repeatedly so as to inflict pain —often used with up
  3. to walk on, tread

Beat (noun)

  1. a single stroke or blow especially in a series; also, pulsation, tick
  2. a sound produced by or as if by beating
  3. a driving impact or force
  4. beatnik

Beat (adjective)

  1. being in a state of exhaustion, exhausted
  2. sapped of resolution or morale
  3. of, relating to, or being beatniks

Beat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to strike repeatedly

    "they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"

    similar: bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, fib (British), flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, 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, whup, work over, beat up on
    related: assail, assault, attack, beset, box, bust, chop, clobber, clout, crack, cudgel, cuff, descend (on or upon), hit, jump (on), knock, lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), punch, raid, rush, slam, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, storm, swat, swipe, thwack, whack, wham, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound, maim, mangle, mutilate

  2. to achieve a victory over

    "she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"

    similar: best, conquer, defeat, dispatch, do down (British), get, get around, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), skunk, stop, subdue, surmount, take, trim, triumph (over), upend, win (against), worst, get the better of, knock for a loop
    related: sweep, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), annihilate, blow away, blow out, bomb, break, bury, clobber, cream, crush, drub, finish, flatten, overwhelm, rout, shellac, skin, slaughter, smoke (slang), snow under, thrash, trounce, upset, wallop, wax (slang), whip, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, subjugate, unseat, vanquish, ace (out), better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend
    opposite: lose (to)
    near: fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out

  3. to be greater, better, or stronger than

    "this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"

    similar: better, eclipse, exceed, excel, outclass, outdistance, outdo, outgun, outmatch, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, tower (over), transcend, go one better, run circles around
    related: one-up, outpace, outrace, outrun, overpass, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, outcompete, outperform, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, shame, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), worst, outbalance, outweigh, overbear, overshadow, trump
    near: lose (to)

  4. to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner

    "the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"

    similar: palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb
    related: fluctuate, oscillate, vibrate, quiver, tremble

  5. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"

    similar: flail, flap, flop, flutter, whip
    related: bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump, flick, flicker, flit, fan, oscillate, sway, swing, undulate, wave, palpitate, pulse, throb

  6. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "you beat me to it"

    similar: baffle, balk, checkmate, discomfit, foil, frustrate, thwart
    related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote
    near: abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth

  7. to shape with a hammer

    "the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"

    similar: draw, forge, hammer, pound
    related: chase, planish, fashion, form, knead, model, mold, pat, work, coin, mint, stamp, abate, boast, carve, chisel, cut, grave, hew, knap, sculpt, sculpture

  8. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"

    similar: blaze, burn, flame, flare, glare
    related: beam, glow, radiate, flash, glance, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glister, glitter, scintillate, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle, bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle

  9. to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically

    "beat the drum in a marching rhythm"

    similar: drum, rap, tap
    related: bang, bash, bat, bonk, bop, hammer, hit, knock, paste, pound, slam, smack, sock, strike, swat, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, chink, clatter, clink, ping, pat, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, chuck, clap, click, flick, tip

  10. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "it beats me how that slipup happened"

    similar: addle, baffle, bamboozle, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, vex, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

  11. to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness

    "he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"

    similar: bypass, circumvent, dodge, get around, shortcut, sidestep, skirt
    related: avoid, duck, elude, end-run, escape, eschew, evade, outflank, shake, shirk, shun, disobey, disregard, flout, ignore, avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off)
    opposite: comply (with), follow, keep, obey, observe
    near: accede (to), acquiesce (to), assent (to), accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome, catch, contract, incur

  12. to reduce to fine particles

    "years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"

    similar: atomize, bray, comminute, crush, disintegrate, grind, mill, mull, pound, powder, pulverize
    related: grate, kibble, crumble, crunch, break, bust, dash, fracture, fragment, shatter, smash, splinter, micronize

  13. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"

    similar: bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), pluck, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
    related: extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray, bitch, double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk

Beat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a hard strike with a part of the body or an instrument

    "delivered one hard beat on the drums"

    similar: bang, bash, bat, belt, biff, blow, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse (British), fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup (dialect), lash, lick, pelt, pick, plump, poke, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smash, sock, spank, stinger, stripe, stroke, swat, swipe, switch, thud, thump, thwack, wallop, welt, whack, wham, whop
    related: counter, counterblow, counterpunch, counterstroke, body blow, hand, kick, knee, left, one-two, rabbit punch, right, right-hander, roundhouse, shiver, sidewinder, sucker punch, swing, uppercut, cruncher, kayo, knockdown, knockout, KO, bastinado, battering, beating, bludgeoning, clobbering, cudgeling, drubbing, hammering, lambasting, licking, pasting, pounding, pummeling, thrashing, flogging, walloping, whip, whipping

  2. a rhythmic expanding and contracting

    "a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency"

    similar: beating, palpitation, pulsation, pulse, throb
    related: fluctuation, oscillation, vibration, quiver, tremble, tremor

  3. the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity

    "moved to the beat of the music"

    similar: cadence, measure, meter, rhythm
    related: accent, accentuation, emphasis, stress, backbeat, drum, throb, lilt, movement, sway, swing, hexameter, pentameter, tetrameter, trimeter

  4. a very small space of time

    "within a beat he was on the phone complaining about an error in his bill"

    similar: eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink
    related: microsecond, snatch, spurt
    near: eon, age, eternity, forever, infinity, lifetime

Beat (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. depleted in strength, energy, or freshness

    "can we pick this up tomorrow, because I'm beat?"

    similar: all in, aweary (archaic), beaten, bleary, burned-out, bushed, dead, done, drained, exhausted, fatigued, jaded, knackered (British), limp, logy, played out, pooped (slang), prostrate, spent, tapped out, tired, tuckered (out), washed-out, wearied, weary, wiped out, worn, worn-out, worn to a frazzle
    related: overfatigued, overtaxed, overworked, broken-down, run-down, debilitated, enervate, enervated, enfeebled, sapped, weakened, drowsy, heavy, sleepy, lethargic, sluggish
    opposite: unwearied
    near: fresh, refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized, active, energetic, invigorated, peppy, strengthened, strong, tireless, vitalized, weariless

Related Entry: Beaten (verb)

Beaten is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beaten, not for beat.

  1. to strike repeatedly

    "they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"

    similar: bashed, basted, batted, battered, belabored, belted, birched, bludgeoned, buffeted, bunged up, clubbed, curried, done, drubbed, fibbed (British), flogged, hammered, hided, laced, lambasted, lashed, lathered, licked, mauled, messed (up), paddled, pelted, pommeled, pounded, pummeled, punched out, roughed (up), slated, slogged, switched, tanned, thrashed, threshed, thumped, tromped, walloped, whaled, whipped, whopped, whupped, worked over, beaten up on
    related: assailed, assaulted, attacked, beset, boxed, busted, chopped, clobbered, clouted, cracked, cudgeled, cuffed, descended (on or upon), hit, jumped (on), knocked, laid on, lammed, pasted, pounced (on or upon), punched, raided, rushed, slammed, slapped, smacked, smashed, socked, spanked, stormed, swatted, swiped, thwacked, whacked, whammed, whomped, blackjacked, caned, cowhided, flagellated, fustigated, horsewhipped, leathered, pistol-whipped, rawhided, scourged, strapped, gored, lacerated, wounded, maimed, mangled, mutilated

  2. to achieve a victory over

    "she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"

    similar: bested, conquered, defeated, dispatched, done down (British), got, got around, licked, mastered, overborne, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), skunked, stopped, subdued, surmounted, taken, trimmed, triumphed (over), upended, won (against), worsted, got the better of, knocked for a loop
    related: swept, edged (out), nosed out, pipped (British), annihilated, blown away, blown out, bombed, broken, buried, clobbered, creamed, crushed, drubbed, finished, flattened, overwhelmed, routed, shellacked, skinned, slaughtered, smoked (slang), snowed under, thrashed, trounced, upset, walloped, waxed (slang), whipped, capped, excelled, flourished, scored, succeeded, knocked off, knocked over, overpowered, overthrown, subjugated, unseated, vanquished, aced (out), bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, outdistanced, outdone, outfought, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, transcended
    opposite: lost (to)
    near: fallen, given up, gone down, gone under, collapsed, failed, flopped, flunked, folded, washed out

  3. to be greater, better, or stronger than

    "this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation"

    similar: bettered, eclipsed, exceeded, excelled, outclassed, outdistanced, outdone, outgunned, outmatched, outshone, outstripped, overtopped, surpassed, topped, towered (over), transcended, gone one better, run circles around
    related: one-upped, outpaced, outraced, outrun, overpassed, bested, clobbered, conquered, crushed, defeated, drubbed, licked, mastered, outcompeted, outperformed, overcome, overmatched, prevailed (over), routed, shamed, skunked, subdued, surmounted, thrashed, trimmed, triumphed (over), trounced, walloped, whipped, won (against), worsted, outbalanced, outweighed, overborne, overshadowed, trumped
    near: lost (to)

  4. to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner

    "the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute"

    similar: palpitated, pit-a-patted, pitter-pattered, pulsated, pulsed, throbbed
    related: fluctuated, oscillated, vibrated, quivered, trembled

  5. to move or cause to move with a striking motion

    "the bird's wings beat strongly as it soared in the air"

    similar: flailed, flapped, flopped, fluttered, whipped
    related: banged, battered, buffeted, knocked, pounded, smacked, spanked, thumped, flicked, flickered, flitted, fanned, oscillated, swayed, swung, undulated, waved, palpitated, pulsed, throbbed

  6. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "you beat me to it"

    similar: baffled, balked, checkmated, discomfited, foiled, frustrated, thwarted
    related: barred, blocked, clogged, encumbered, fettered, hampered, handicapped, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, inhibited, interfered (with), manacled, obstructed, shackled, tied up, trammeled, arrested, checked, halted, set back, short-circuited, stalled, stopped, averted, forestalled, obviated, precluded, prevented, negated, neutralized, nullified, counteracted, offset, conquered, defeated, overcome
    opposite: advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nurtured, promoted
    near: abetted, aided, assisted, eased, facilitated, smoothed

  7. to shape with a hammer

    "the medieval artisans who beat iron into exquisite swords"

    similar: drawn, forged, hammered, pounded
    related: chased, planished, fashioned, formed, kneaded, modeled, molded, patted, worked, coined, minted, stamped, abated, boasted, carved, chiseled, cut, graven, hewed, knapped, sculpted, sculptured

  8. to shine with a bright harsh light

    "the tropical sun beat down on our heads without mercy"

    similar: blazed, burned, flamed, flared, glared
    related: beamed, glowed, radiated, flashed, glanced, gleamed, glimmered, glinted, glistened, glistered, glittered, scintillated, shimmered, sparkled, twinkled, bedazzled, blinded, dazed, dazzled

  9. to strike or cause to strike lightly and usually rhythmically

    "beat the drum in a marching rhythm"

    similar: drummed, rapped, tapped
    related: banged, bashed, batted, bonked, bopped, hammered, hit, knocked, pasted, pounded, slammed, smacked, socked, struck, swatted, thudded, thumped, thwacked, walloped, whacked, chinked, clattered, clinked, pinged, patted, pit-a-patted, pitter-pattered, chucked, clapped, clicked, flicked, tipped

  10. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "it beats me how that slipup happened"

    similar: addled, baffled, bamboozled, befogged, befuddled, bemused, bewildered, buffaloed, confounded, confused, discombobulated, disoriented, flummoxed, foxed, fuddled, got, graveled, mazed, muddied, muddled, mystified, perplexed, posed, puzzled, vexed, blown one's mind, gone to one's head
    related: stuck, stumped, weirded out, abashed, discomfited, disconcerted, discountenanced, embarrassed, fazed, flustered, mortified, nonplussed, rattled, agitated, bothered, chagrined, discomforted, discomposed, dismayed, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, stunned, unhinged, unsettled, upset, beguiled, cozened, deceived, deluded, duped, fooled, gulled, hoaxed, hoodwinked, humbugged, misguided, misled, snowed, strung along, taken in, tricked
    near: assured, reassured, satisfied, enlightened, informed

  11. to avoid having to comply with (something) especially through cleverness

    "he spends all of his time trying to beat the system"

    similar: bypassed, circumvented, dodged, got around, shortcut, sidestepped, skirted
    related: avoided, ducked, eluded, end-ran, escaped, eschewed, evaded, outflanked, shaken, shirked, shunned, disobeyed, disregarded, flouted, ignored, averted, deflected, diverted, obviated, parried, prevented, warded (off)
    opposite: complied (with), followed, kept, obeyed, observed
    near: acceded (to), acquiesced (to), assented (to), accepted, courted, embraced, pursued, sought, welcomed, caught, contracted, incurred

  12. to reduce to fine particles

    "years of pounding had beaten the pebbles to a fine dust"

    similar: atomized, brayed, comminuted, crushed, disintegrated, ground, milled, mulled, pounded, powdered, pulverized
    related: grated, kibbled, crumbled, crunched, broken, busted, dashed, fractured, fragmented, shattered, smashed, splintered, micronized

  13. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "the screenwriter has filed a lawsuit, accusing the production company of beating him out of his share of the film's net profits"

    similar: bilked, bled, cheated, chiseled, choused, conned, cozened, defrauded, diddled, done, done in, euchred, fiddled, fleeced, flimflammed, gaffed, hosed (slang), hustled, mulcted, nobbled (British slang), plucked, reamed, ripped off, rooked, screwed, shaken down, shortchanged, shorted, skinned, skunked, squeezed, stiffed, stuck, stung, suckered, swindled, thimblerigged, victimized, sold a bill of goods to, taken for a ride, taken to the cleaners
    related: extorted, wrenched, wrested, wrung, clipped, gouged, nicked, overcharged, soaked, exploited, milked, deceived, duped, fooled, gulled, tricked, roped (in), betrayed, bitched, double-crossed, bamboozled, fast-talked

Related Entry: Beat off (verb)

Beat off is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat off, not for beat.

  1. to drive back

    "the defense managed to beat off those offensive players who were taking shots at the goalie"

    similar: fend (off), rebut, repel, repulse, stave off, turn away, turn back
    related: defy, fight, hold off, oppose, resist, stand off, withstand, deflect, ward (off), rebuff, snub, spurn
    near: embrace, hail, welcome

Related Entry: Beat-up (adjective)

Beat-up is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat-up, not for beat.

  1. showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect

    "drives the same beat-up truck he had in high school"

    similar: bombed-out, dilapidated, dog-eared, down-at-the-heels, dumpy, grungy, mangy, mean, miserable, moth-eaten, neglected, ratty, run-down, scrubby, scruffy, seedy, shabby, sleazy, tacky, tatterdemalion, tatty, threadbare, timeworn, tumbledown, gone to seed
    related: abandoned, unkept, desolate, forlorn, godforsaken, broken-down, decrepit, tired, worn-out, bedraggled, dingy, ragged, tattered, decaying, deteriorated, deteriorating, rackety, ramshackle, rattletrap, rickety, broken, damaged, destroyed, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, ruined, wrecked
    near: brand-new, fresh, new, cared-for, kept-up, maintained, mended, patched, rebuilt, reconstructed, smart, spiffy, spruce

Related Entry: Beat a retreat (phrase)

Beat a retreat is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat a retreat, not for beat.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "Seeing that they were hopelessly outnumbered, the troops beat a retreat."

    similar: bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

Related Entry: Beat around the bush (phrase)

Beat around the bush is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat around the bush, not for beat.

  1. to avoid giving a definite answer or position

    "Please stop beating around the bush and tell me the full story."

    similar: equivocate, fudge, hedge, pussyfoot, tergiversate, waffle, weasel, hem and haw, straddle the fence
    related: flip-flop, yo-yo, dodge, duck, elude, eschew, evade, shake, shirk, shun, sidestep, skirt, bypass, circumvent, cavil, quibble, straddle

Related Entry: Beat it (phrase)

Beat it is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat it, not for beat.

  1. to proceed or move quickly

    "Let's beat it before we miss the start of the movie."

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

  2. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "They beat it out of there when the cops showed up."

    similar: bolt, break, bug out, flee, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat a retreat, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

  3. to leave a place often for another

    "She grew bored of her hometown and decided to beat it."

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bugger off (British slang), bug off, bug out, buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Related Entry: Beat one's brains out (about) (phrase)

Beat one's brains out (about) is a different word from Beat. The synonyms below are for beat one's brains out (about), not for beat.

  1. to give serious and careful thought to

    "He beat his brains out trying to come up with a solution."

    similar: chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with), chew on, cudgel one's brains (about), look at
    related: muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce, analyze, explore, review, conclude, reason, second-guess, speculate (about), brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over), believe, conceive, opine, absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
    near: disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, dismiss, pooh-pooh, reject

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Beat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Beat:

British: fib, do down, douse, knackered
Slang: hose, pooped
British slang: nobble
Dialect: larrup
Archaic: aweary
bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet, bung up, club, curry, do, drub, flog, hammer, hide, lace, lambaste, lash, lather, lick, maul, mess (up), paddle, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, punch out, rough (up), slate, slog, switch, tan, thrash, thresh, thump, tromp, wallop

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Beat

Words with the opposite meaning of Beat:

lose (to), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote, comply (with), follow, keep, obey, observe, unwearied

Related Words for Beat

assail, assault, attack, beset, clobber, cudgel, descend (on or upon), jump (on), lam, lay on, paste, pounce (on or upon), raid, rush, storm, whomp, blackjack, cane, cowhide, flagellate, fustigate, horsewhip, leather, pistol-whip, rawhide, scourge, strap, gore, lacerate, wound

Near Antonyms of Beat

fall, give up, go down, go under, collapse, fail, flop, flunk, fold, wash out, abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth, assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform, accede (to), acquiesce (to), assent (to), accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome

Word Forms of Beat

Inflections: beaten, beating, beats

Derived words: beatable (adjective), beatless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Beat

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

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Beat

Words & Phrases Containing Beat

beat about the bush, beat a retreat, beat it, beat off, beat one's brains out, beat out

Frequently Asked Questions about Beat

What does "Beat" mean?

"Beat" means to strike repeatedly:. As an a verb, a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: to strike repeatedly:. It has 18 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Beat"?

Other words for "Beat" include bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch and bludgeon. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Beat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Beat"?

There are 620 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Beat". Common alternatives include bash, baste, bat, batter, belabor, belt, birch, bludgeon, buffet and bung up.

What is a slang word for "Beat"?

Slang words for "Beat" include hose, pooped and nobble.

What is the opposite of "Beat"?

Antonyms of "Beat" include lose (to), advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further and nurture. Near antonyms include fall, give up, go down and go under.

How do you use "Beat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Beat" in a sentence: "they attacked and beat him, but fortunately he'll be fine"; "she always beats everyone at checkers, but she's not as good at chess"; "this new animated feature sure beats everything else that's ever been done in animation".

Is "Beat" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Beat" can be used as a verb, a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Beat" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Beat" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.