Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense defeats, present participle defeating, past tense, past participle defeated
1. verb
If you defeat someone, you win a victory over them in a battle, game, or contest.
His guerrillas defeated the colonial army in 1954. [VERB noun]
The NHL Stanley Cup was won by the Montreal Canadians, who defeated the Boston Bruinsfour games to one. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: beat, crush, overwhelm, conquer More Synonyms of defeat
2. verb [usually passive]
If a proposal or motion in a debate is defeated, more people vote against it than for it.
The proposal was defeated by just one vote. [beVERB-ed]
3. verb
If a task or a problem defeats you, it is so difficult that you cannot do it or solve it.
There were times when the challenges of writing such a huge novel almost defeatedher. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: frustrate, foil, thwart, ruin More Synonyms of defeat
4. verb
To defeat an action or plan means to cause it to fail.
The navy played a limited but significant role in defeating the rebellion. [VERB noun]
He swore to defeat Odin's plan. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: overthrow, destroy, ruin, upset More Synonyms of defeat
5. variable noun
Defeat is the experience of being beaten in a battle, game, or contest, or of failing to achieve what you wanted to.
The most important thing is not to admit defeat until you really have to.
This vote is seen as a defeat for the liberal elite. [+ for]
A 2-1 defeat by Sweden left them bottom of Group One.
Synonyms: conquest, beating, overthrow, pasting [slang] More Synonyms of defeat
More Synonyms of defeat
defeat in British English
(dɪˈfiːt)
verb(transitive)
1.
to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory over
2.
to thwart or frustrate
this accident has defeated all his hopes of winning
3. law
to render null and void; annul
noun
4.
the act of defeating or state of being defeated
5.
an instance of defeat
6.
overthrow or destruction
7. law
an annulment
Derived forms
defeater (deˈfeater)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des-dis-1 + faire to do, from Latin facere
defeat in American English
(diˈfit; dɪˈfit)
verb transitive
1.
to win victory over; overcome; beat
2.
to bring to nothing; frustrate
defeating our plans
3.
to make null and void
4. Obsolete
to undo; destroy
noun
5.
the act of defeating, or gaining victory
6.
the fact of being defeated
7.
frustration
8.
nullification
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈconquer
Word origin
ME defeten < defet, disfigured, null and void < OFr desfait, pp. of desfaire, to undo < ML disfacere, to deface, ruin < L dis-, from + facere, to do1
Examples of 'defeat' in a sentence
defeat
They will surely not come back from a second defeat.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The days of one or two defeats had disappeared.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cambridge had gone eight away games without defeat in the league.
The Sun (2017)
The reality of it is the investment has to come through defeat and victory.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But at least we avoided a fourth successive defeat.
The Sun (2016)
Their last nine league games have brought four wins, four defeats and a draw.
The Sun (2017)
It was a crushing defeat for the French.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They'll keep serving until you finally admit defeat and place the red chip on your table.
The Sun (2016)
England were playing under massive pressure after six consecutive defeats, and crumbled.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was the first time Stoke had avoided defeat here since 1980 and lifted them off the foot of the table.
The Sun (2016)
But all it takes is one defeat and we could be right back to where we were.
The Sun (2010)
He was gracious in the face of a crushing defeat.
The Sun (2014)
Do you find it especially difficult to openly admit failure or defeat?
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Brawn is a measured individual and not one to get carried away in victory or defeat.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The defeat of the proposal is far from certain.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
One away defeat followed by two successive home draws.
The Sun (2012)
These defeats have really ripped me apart.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But they always end up crushed in defeat like an olive in a press.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Banks admit defeat but will lessons be learnt?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The home side were staring a fifth defeat in six games in the face and had effectively slipped into the bottom three.
The Sun (2011)
The mighty Atom stumbled at the traps in that contest and the defeat can safely be ignored.
The Sun (2015)
Four draws and three defeats from winning positions adds up to 17 points frittered.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Ministers are attempting to come up with a compromise to avoid defeat on Wednesday.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The second Melbourne final defeat in as many years certainly took its toll.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But for most, knowing defeat is an experience that allows you to know defeat still better.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Wall Street has conceded defeat on that one.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They could have done it by winning games, or they could have done it by avoiding defeat.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
A win would leave the manager with six wins and five defeats from the 11 matches.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He looked sharp but could not save the Sky Blues from a second defeat of the season.
The Sun (2015)
And if he helps inflict defeat on Warrington, they could be cursing the one that got away.
The Sun (2012)
His cause has not been helped by five successive defeats as his side limped to Premier League safety.
The Sun (2013)
Just when we were wondering if the Americans could sink any lower after an eighth defeat in ten contests, they turn on themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is the crucial time of the season and there's no way I want to experience a playoff defeat again.
The Sun (2006)
Quotations
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!Bible: II Samuel
Defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom. And above all futilityAntoine de Saint-ExupéryFlight to Arras
Victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphanCount Galeazzo GianoDiary
In other languages
defeat
British English: defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ NOUN
Defeat is the state of being beaten in a battle, game, or contest, or of failing to achieve what you wanted to.
The most important thing is not to admit defeat.
American English: defeat
Arabic: هَزِيـمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: derrota
Chinese: 击败
Croatian: poraz
Czech: porážka
Danish: nederlag
Dutch: nederlaag
European Spanish: derrota
Finnish: tappio
French: défaite
German: Niederlage
Greek: ήττα
Italian: sconfitta
Japanese: 負け
Korean: 패배
Norwegian: nederlag
Polish: porażka
European Portuguese: derrota
Romanian: înfrângere
Russian: поражение
Latin American Spanish: derrota
Swedish: nederlag
Thai: ความพ่ายแพ้
Turkish: yenilgi
Ukrainian: поразка
Vietnamese: sự thất bại
British English: defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ VERB
If you defeat someone, you win a victory over them in a battle or contest.
His forces were defeated by government troops.
American English: defeat
Arabic: يَهْزِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: derrotar
Chinese: 击败
Croatian: poraziti
Czech: porazit zdolat
Danish: besejre
Dutch: verslaan
European Spanish: derrotar
Finnish: voittaa joku tai jokin
French: battre gagner
German: besiegen
Greek: νικώ
Italian: sconfiggere
Japanese: 負かす
Korean: 쳐부수다
Norwegian: tape
Polish: pokonać zwyciężyć
European Portuguese: derrotar
Romanian: a înfrânge
Russian: наносить поражение
Latin American Spanish: derrotar
Swedish: besegra
Thai: ทำให้พ่ายแพ้
Turkish: yenmek
Ukrainian: перемагати
Vietnamese: đánh bại
Chinese translation of 'defeat'
defeat
(dɪˈfiːt)
n(c/u)
[of army]战(戰)败(敗) (zhànbài) (次, cì)
[of team]击(擊)败(敗) (jībài) (次, cì)
(= failure) 失败(敗) (shībài)
vt
[enemy, opposition]战(戰)胜(勝) (zhànshèng)
[team]击(擊)败(敗) (jībài)
[plan, proposal etc]否决(決) (fǒujué)
(= be too difficult for)[task, challenge]难(難)住 (nánzhù)
1 (verb)
Definition
to win a victory over
His troops defeated the opposing army.
Synonyms
beat
He was easily beaten into third place.
crush
The military operation was the first step in a plan to crush the uprising.
overwhelm
One massive assault would overwhelm the weakened enemy.
conquer
a Navajo myth about a great warrior who conquers the spiritual enemies of his people
stuff (slang)
master
She needs to master her fears of becoming ill.
worst
tank (slang)
overthrow
The government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.
lick (informal)
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.
undo
subdue
They admit they have not been able to subdue the rebels.
rout
The Norman army routed the English opposition.
overpower
Britain's tennis No.1 yesterday overpowered his American rival.
quell
Troops eventually quelled the unrest.
trounce
Australia trounced France by sixty points to four.
clobber (slang)
vanquish
a happy ending in which the hero vanquishes the monsters
repulse
subjugate
Their costly attempt to subjugate the citizens lasted 10 years.
run rings around (informal)
wipe the floor with (informal)
make mincemeat of (informal)
pip at the post
outplay
blow out of the water (slang)
Opposites
lose
,
yield
, bow,
submit
,
surrender
,
succumb
,
cave in (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to thwart or frustrate
The challenges of constructing such a huge novel almost defeated her.
Synonyms
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
foil
A brave police chief foiled an armed robbery.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
ruin
baffle
confound
balk
get the better of
forestall
They had done little to forestall the attack.
stymie
Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen.
3 (verb)
Definition
to thwart or frustrate
He swore to defeat the plan.
Synonyms
overthrow
destroy
The team destroyed their opponents in a one-sided game.
ruin
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
upset
The champion was upset by a rank outsider.
overturn
He accused his opponents of wanting to overturn the government.
demolish
Their intention was to demolish his reputation.
put an end to
subvert
an alleged plot to subvert the state
put paid to
bring to ruin
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of defeating or state of being defeated
The vote was seen as something of a defeat for the lobbyists.
Synonyms
conquest
This hidden treasure charts the brutal Spanish conquest of the Aztecs.
beating
A beating at Wembley would be too much of a trauma for them.
overthrow
They were charged with plotting the overthrow of the state.
pasting (slang)
rout
The retreat turned into a rout.
debacle
trouncing
repulse
the repulse of invaders in 1785
vanquishment
Opposites
success
,
victory
,
triumph
2 (noun)
Definition
the act of defeating or state of being defeated
the final defeat of all his hopes
Synonyms
frustration
the frustration of their plan
failure
The policy is doomed to failure.
reverse
They have suffered a major reverse.
disappointment
There was resentment among the people at the disappointment of their hopes.
setback
He has suffered a serious setback in his political career.
thwarting
Quotations
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished! [Bible: II Samuel]Defeat is a thing of weariness, of incoherence, of boredom. And above all futility [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – Flight to Arras]Victory has a hundred fathers, but defeat is an orphan [Count Galeazzo Giano – Diary]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beating
A beating at Wembley would be too much of a trauma for them.
Synonyms
defeat,
ruin,
overthrow,
pasting (slang),
conquest,
rout,
downfall
in the sense of conquer
Definition
to defeat (an opponent or opponents)
a Navajo myth about a great warrior who conquers the spiritual enemies of his people
Synonyms
defeat,
overcome,
overthrow,
beat,
stuff (slang),
master,
tank (slang),
triumph,
crush,
humble,
lick (informal),
undo,
subdue,
rout,
overpower,
quell,
get the better of,
clobber (slang),
vanquish,
subjugate,
prevail over,
checkmate,
run rings around (informal),
wipe the floor with (informal),
make mincemeat of (informal),
put in their place,
blow out of the water (slang),
bring to their knees
in the sense of crush
Definition
to control or subdue by force
The military operation was the first step in a plan to crush the uprising.