verb

beat

beet

verb

To hit repeatedly, or to defeat someone in a contest.

"Our team beat the reigning champions in the final."

"He beat the drum in time with the music."

To mix ingredients rapidly, usually with a whisk or spoon.

"Beat the eggs and sugar together until pale and fluffy."

noun

A regular rhythmic pulse, especially in music.

"The bassline laid down a steady beat."

"I could feel my heart's beat quicken."

A journalist's or police officer's regular area of responsibility or patrol.

"The reporter has covered the crime beat for a decade."

"The officer walked the same beat every night."

adj

Informal: completely exhausted.

"I'm beat after that shift — I'm going straight to bed."

How to Use Beat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo strike, to defeat, or to whisk ingredients together; also a musical rhythm, a patrol route, or (informally) exhausted.

Common mistake

The past tense is "beat" (yesterday I beat him), but the past participle is "beaten" (he has beaten the record) — don't mix them up.

Common pairings

beat someone at beat the odds off the beaten track dead beat

Word Forms

more beat comparative, more beat comparative, beat past tense, beated past tense, beaten past tense, beats plural, beat plural, beats plural, beats singular, beat singular, beatest singular, beateth singular, most beat superlative, most beat superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Our team _____ the reigning champions in the final.

Etymology

From Old English bēatan, meaning "to strike or pound," an ancient Germanic verb related to words for "pushing" or "striking" in several other languages.

Rhymes for beat

eat meat feat peat heat seat teat neat sweat wheat great bleat

See all rhymes for beat →