Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense beats, present participle beating, past participle beatenlanguage note: The form beat is used in the present tense and is the past tense.
1. verb
If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard.
My sister tried to stop them and they beat her. [VERB noun]
They were beaten to death with baseball bats. [beVERB-ed + to]
Synonyms: batter, break, hit, strike More Synonyms of beat
2. verb
To beaton, beatat, or beatagainst something means to hit it hard, usually several times or continuously for a periodof time.
There was dead silence but for a fly beating against the glass. [VERB + against]
Nina managed to free herself and began beating at the flames with a pillow. [VERB + at]
The rain was beating on the windowpanes. [VERB + on]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: pound, strike, hammer [informal], batter More Synonyms of beat
Beat is also a noun.
...the rhythmic beat of the surf.
beatingsingular noun
...the silence broken only by the beating of the rain.
Synonyms: throb, pounding, pumping, pulse More Synonyms of beat
Synonyms: defeat, ruin, overthrow, pasting [slang] More Synonyms of beat
Synonyms: thrashing, hiding [informal], belting [informal], whipping [slang] More Synonyms of beat
3. verb
When your heart or pulse beats, it continually makes regular rhythmic movements.
I felt my heart beating faster. [VERB]
Synonyms: throb, pulse, tick, thump More Synonyms of beat
Beat is also a noun.
He could hear the beat of his heart.
Most people's pulse rate is more than 70 beats per minute.
beatingsingular noun
I could hear the beating of my heart.
Synonyms: throb, pounding, pumping, pulse More Synonyms of beat
Synonyms: defeat, ruin, overthrow, pasting [slang] More Synonyms of beat
Synonyms: thrashing, hiding [informal], belting [informal], whipping [slang] More Synonyms of beat
4. verb
If you beat a drum or similar instrument, you hit it in order to make a sound. You can also say that a drum beats.
When you beat the drum, you feel good. [VERB noun]
...drums beating and pipes playing. [VERB]
Synonyms: hit, play, strike, bang More Synonyms of beat
Beat is also a noun.
...the rhythmical beat of the drum.
5. countable noun [usually singular]
The beat of a piece of music is the main rhythm that it has.
...the thumping beat of rock music.
...the dance beats of the last two decades.
Synonyms: rhythm, time, measure [prosody], movement More Synonyms of beat
6. countable noun [usually plural]
In music, a beat is a unit of measurement. The number of beats in a bar of a piece of music is indicated by two numbers atthe beginning of the piece.
It's got four beats to a bar.
7. See also upbeat, downbeat
8. verb
If you beat eggs, cream, or butter, you mix them thoroughly using a fork or beater.
Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: whisk, mix, stir, fold More Synonyms of beat
9. verb
When a bird or insect beats its wings or when its wings beat, its wings move up and down.
Beating their wings they flew off. [VERB noun]
Its wings beat slowly. [VERB]
Synonyms: flap, thrash, flutter, agitate More Synonyms of beat
10. verb
If you beat someone in a competition or election, you defeat them.
In yesterday's games, Switzerland beat the United States two-one. [VERB noun]
There are men who simply don't like being beaten by a woman. [VERB noun]
She was easily beaten into third place. [beVERB-ed + into]
Synonyms: defeat, outdo, trounce, overcome More Synonyms of beat
11. verb
If someone beats a record or achievement, they do better than it.
He was as eager as his Captain to beat the record. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: exceed, best, top, cap [informal] More Synonyms of beat
12. verb
If you beat something that you are fighting against, for example an organization, a problem,or a disease, you defeat it.
It became clear that the Union was not going to beat the government. [VERB noun]
The doctor gave him the news that he'd beaten cancer.
They recognise that tough action offers the only hope of beating inflation. [VERB noun]
Both he and his wife have recently beaten cancer and now are taking on some new challenges. [VERB noun]
13. verb [usually passive]
If an attack or an attempt is beatenoff or is beatenback, it is stopped, often temporarily.
The rescuers were beaten back by strong winds and currents. [beV-ed adv]
...the day after government troops beat off a fierce rebel attack on its capital. [V adv n]
14. verb [no cont]
If you say that one thing beats another, you mean that it is better than it.
[informal]
Being boss of a software firm beats selling insurance. [VERB noun]
Nothing quite beats the luxury of soaking in a long, hot bath at the end of a tiringday. [VERB noun]
For an evening stroll the beach at Dieppe is hard to beat. [VERB noun]
15. verb [no cont]
If you say you can't beat a particular thing you mean that it is the best thing of its kind.
You can't beat soap and water for cleansing. [VERB noun]
16. verb
To beat a time limit or an event means to achieve something before that time or event.
They were trying to beat the midnight deadline. [VERB noun]
Those who shop on Sunday to beat the rush are wasting their time. [VERB noun]
17. countable noun
A police officer's or journalist's beat is the area for which he or she is responsible.
Crime on his beat has halved.
18. verb
You use beat in expressions such as 'It beats me' or 'What beats me is' to indicate that you cannotunderstand or explain something.
[informal, spoken]
'What am I doing wrong, anyway?'—'Beats me, Lewis.' [VERB noun]
How you can be so insensitive absolutely beats me. [VERB noun]
19. phrase
If you tell someone to beat it, you are telling them to go away.
[informal, spoken]
Beat it before it's too late.
20. convention
You can say Can you beat it? or Can you beat that? to show that you are surprised and perhaps annoyed about something.
[informal, feelings]
Can you beat it; there was Graham Greene in Freetown and there was I on the otherside of Africa.
21. See also beaten, beaten-up, beating, beat-up
22.
See beat sb to it
23.
See If you can't beat them, join them.
24.
See miss a beat
25.
See miss a beat
26.
See on the beat
27.
See beat time
28. to beat someone black and blue
29. to beat someone's brains out
30. to beat one's breast
31. to beat about the bush
32. to beat the clock
33. to beat or knock the living daylights out of someone
34. to beat the drum for someone or something
35. to beat someone at their own game
36. to beat a retreat
37. a stick to beat someone with
Phrasal verbs:
See beat down
See beat out
See beat out of
See beat up
See beat up on
More Synonyms of beat
beat in British English
(biːt)
verbWord forms: beats, beating, beat, beaten or beat
1. (whenintr, often foll by against, on, etc)
to strike with or as if with a series of violent blows; dash or pound repeatedly (against)
2. (transitive)
to punish by striking; flog
3.
to move or cause to move up and down; flap
the bird beat its wings heavily
4. (intransitive)
to throb rhythmically; pulsate
her heart beat fast
5. (transitive)
to make (one's way) by or as if by blows
she beat her way out of the crowd
6. (transitive; sometimes foll byup) cookery
to stir or whisk (an ingredient or mixture) vigorously
7. (transitive; sometimes foll byout)
to shape, make thin, or flatten (a piece of metal) by repeated blows
8. (transitive) music
to indicate (time) by the motion of one's hand, baton, etc, or by the action of a metronome
9. (whentr, sometimes foll by out)
to produce (a sound or signal) by or as if by striking a drum
10.
to sound or cause to sound, by or as if by beating
beat the drums!
11.
to overcome (an opponent) in a contest, battle, etc
12. (tr; often foll by back, down, off etc)
to drive, push, or thrust
13. (transitive)
to arrive or finish before (someone or something); anticipate or forestall
they set off early to beat the rush hour
14. (transitive)
to form (a path or track) by repeatedly walking or riding over it
15.
to scour (woodlands, coverts, or undergrowth) so as to rouse game for shooting
16. (transitive) slang
to puzzle or baffle
it beats me how he can do that
17. (intransitive) physics
(of sounds or electrical signals) to combine and produce a pulsating sound or signal
18. (intransitive) nautical
to steer a sailing vessel as close as possible to the direction from which the wind is blowing
19. (transitive) slang, mainly US
to cheat or defraud
he beat his brother out of the inheritance
20. beat about the bush
21. beat a retreat
22. beat it
23. beat one's breast
24. beat someone's brains out
25. beat someone to it
26. beat the bounds
27. can you beat it?
noun
28.
a stroke or blow
29.
the sound made by a stroke or blow
30.
a regular sound or stroke; throb
31.
a.
an assigned or habitual round or route, as of a police officer or sentry
b.
(as modifier)
beat police officers
32.
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music, usually grouped in twos, threes, or fours
33.
a.
pop or rock music characterized by a heavy rhythmic beat
b.
(as modifier)
a beat group
34. physics
the low regular frequency produced by combining two sounds or electrical signals thathave similar frequencies
35. horology
the impulse given to the balance wheel by the action of the escapement
36. prosody
the accent, stress, or ictus in a metrical foot
37. nautical
a course that steers a sailing vessel as close as possible to the direction from whichthe wind is blowing
38.
a.
the act of scouring for game by beating
b.
the organized scouring of a particular woodland so as to rouse the game in it
c.
the woodland where game is so roused
39. short for beatnik
40. fencing
a sharp tap with one's blade on an opponent's blade to deflect it
41. (modifier, often capital)
of, characterized by, or relating to the Beat Generation
a beat poet
beat philosophy
adjective
42. (postpositive) slang
totally exhausted
Derived forms
beatable (ˈbeatable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English bēatan; related to Old Norse bauta, Old High German bōzan
to punish by striking repeatedly and hard; whip, flog, spank, etc.
3.
to dash repeatedly against
waves beat the shore
4.
a.
to form by repeated treading or riding
to beat a path through grass
b.
to keep walking on
to beat the pavements
5.
to shape or flatten by hammering; forge
6.
to mix by stirring or striking repeatedly with a utensil; whip (an egg, cream, etc.)
7.
to move (esp. wings) up and down; flap; flail
8.
to hunt through; search
the posse beat the countryside for the fugitive
9.
to make, force, or drive by or as by hitting, flailing, or pounding
to beat one's way through a crowd, to beat chalk dust from erasers
10.
a.
to defeat in a race, contest, or struggle; overcome
b.
to outdo or surpass
c.
to act, arrive, or finish before
11.
to mark (time or rhythm) by tapping, etc.
12.
to sound or signal, as by a drumbeat
13. Informal
to baffle or puzzle
14. US, Informal
to cheat or trick
15. US, Slang
to avoid the penalties associated with (a charge, indictment, etc.); escape (a rap)
verb intransitive
16.
to strike, hit, or dash repeatedly and, usually, hard
17.
to move or sound rhythmically; throb, pulsate, vibrate, tick, etc.
18.
to strike about in or hunt through underbrush, woods, etc. for game
19.
to take beating or stirring
this cream doesn't beat well
20.
a.
to make a sound by being struck, as a drum
b.
to beat a drum, as to sound a signal
21. Informal
to win
22. Nautical
to progress by tacking into the wind
23. Radio
to combine two waves of different frequencies, thus producing an additional frequency equal to the difference between these
noun
24.
a beating, as of the heart
25.
any of a series of blows or strokes
26.
any of a series of movements or sounds; throb
27.
a.
a habitual path or round of duty
a policeman's beat
b.
the subject or area assigned regularly to a news writer
28.
a.
the unit of musical rhythm
four beats to a measure
b.
the accent or stress in the rhythm of verse or music
c.
the gesture of the hand, baton, etc. used to mark this
29. Ballet
a movement in which one leg is brought in contact with the other or both legs arebrought together in the air
30. US, Informal
a person or thing that surpasses
you never saw the beat of it
31. US
a.
beatnik
b. [oftenB-]
any of a group of U.S. writers in the 1950s and 1960s whose work grew out of andexpressed beat attitudes
32. Acoustics
the regularly recurring fluctuation in loudness of sound produced by two simultaneous tones of nearly equal frequency
33. US, Journalism
a reporting of a news item ahead of all rivals; scoop
34. Nautical
a tack into the wind
35. Radio
one cycle of a frequency formed by beating
adjective
36. Informal
tired out; exhausted, physically or emotionally
37. US
of or belonging to a group of young persons, esp. of the 1950s, rebelling against conventional attitudes, dress, speech, etc., largely as an expression of social disillusionment
Idioms:
beat about
beat back
beat down
beat it!
beat off
beat one's meat
beat out
beat up (on)
on the beat
to beat the band
SYNONYMY NOTE: beat, the most general word in this comparison, conveys the basic idea of hitting or strikingrepeatedly, whether with the hands, the feet, an implement, etc.; , pound1 suggests heavier, more effective blows than , beat [to pound with a hammer]; pummel implies the beating of a person with the fists and suggests a continuous, indiscriminaterain of damaging blows; , thrash, originally referring to the beating of grain with a flail, suggests similar broad,swinging strokes, as in striking a person repeatedly with a stick, etc.; , flog implies a punishing by the infliction of repeated blows with a stick, strap, whip,etc.; , whip, often used as an equivalent of , flog, specifically suggests lashing strokes or motions; , maul implies the infliction of repeated heavy blows so as to bruise or lacerate. Mostof these terms are used loosely, esp. by journalists, in describing a decisive victoryin a contest
Word origin
ME beten < OE beatan < IE *bhaut- < base *bhau-, *bhū-, to strike, beat > beetle2, butt1 & butt2, L fustis, a club
More idioms containing
beat
beat someone hollow
beat someone at their own game
beat the living daylights out of someone
beat the bushes
not beat about the bush
without missing a beat
not miss a beat
beat your breast
beat the pants off someone
beat a path to someone's door
beat someone to a pulp
a stick to beat someone with
beat swords into ploughshares
Examples of 'beat' in a sentence
beat
When they score tries they become immensely hard to beat for two reasons.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That feeling lasts until you go back and beat them.
The Sun (2016)
They were not going to beat us that day.
The Sun (2017)
He only beat two inferior rivals when scoring on his chase debut at Uttoxeter last month but he jumped nicely.
The Sun (2017)
Make sure you beat the mayonnaise against the sides of the bowl as you go, to help give it good volume.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A turgid style of rugby will beat lesser teams, but it won't beat the best four or five.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When people beat your record they raise the bar.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Tracks attempt to beat frost by covering the takeoff and landing sides of fences and hurdles.
The Sun (2006)
We set ourselves up to be hard to beat.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That form makes him the one to beat.
The Sun (2016)
We can beat four golds for sure.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There was no way she was going to beat me.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What we need is more police on the beat.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Last year he only beat two home.
The Sun (2016)
Feel free to beat me up over it.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Now take your right foot back a step on the beat of music.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We deserved to beat a very good side.
The Sun (2013)
There is no way to beat the game on best play.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We must beat them at home and get through.
The Sun (2013)
Its regular beat was surprisingly calming.
Oliver Poole BLACK KNIGHTS: On the Bloody Road to Baghdad (2003)
When you face an existential threat, you have to make sacrifices to beat it.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
When the old drums beat below the surface, their feet cannot help stamping.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
The drums were building to a crescendo now, hammering out their rhythmic beat to drive the men on.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Second behind Portugal, who they beat away.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
beat
British English: beat /biːt/ NOUN
A beat is a regular sound or rhythm.
...the rhythmic beat of the drum.
American English: beat
Arabic: نَبْضَة
Brazilian Portuguese: batida efeito de bater
Chinese: 敲打
Croatian: ritam
Czech: rytmus
Danish: slag
Dutch: maat muziek
European Spanish: ritmo compás
Finnish: tahti tahdin lyönti
French: rythme
German: Schlag
Greek: χτύπος
Italian: battito
Japanese: 打つこと
Korean: 박자
Norwegian: rytme
Polish: uderzenie cios
European Portuguese: batida
Romanian: cadență
Russian: ритм
Latin American Spanish: ritmo orden acompasado
Swedish: takt
Thai: จังหวะ
Turkish: vuruş
Ukrainian: ритм
Vietnamese: nhịp
British English: beat /biːt/ VERB
hit If you beat something, you keep hitting it.
He beat the drum with a stick.
American English: beat strike
Arabic: يَنْبِضُ
Brazilian Portuguese: bater
Chinese: 打
Croatian: tući
Czech: bít
Danish: slå
Dutch: slaan
European Spanish: golpear
Finnish: lyödä
French: frapper
German: schlagen
Greek: χτυπώ
Italian: battere
Japanese: 続けざまに打つ
Korean: 때리다
Norwegian: slå
Polish: pobić
European Portuguese: bater
Romanian: a bate
Russian: бить
Latin American Spanish: golpear
Swedish: slå smälla till
Thai: ตี
Turkish: dövmek
Ukrainian: бити
Vietnamese: đánh đập
British English: beat /biːt/ VERB
defeat If you beat someone in a game or a competition, you do better than they do.
He beat me in the race.
American English: beat outdo
Arabic: يَهْزِمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: derrotar
Chinese: 胜过
Croatian: pobijediti
Czech: porazit v soutěži
Danish: slå
Dutch: verslaan
European Spanish: derrotar
Finnish: voittaa joku tai jokin
French: battre gagner
German: übertreffen
Greek: υπερέχω
Italian: battere
Japanese: ･･･に勝つ outdo
Korean: 능가하다
Norwegian: overvinne
Polish: pokonać pobić
European Portuguese: derrotar
Romanian: a înfrânge
Russian: побеждать
Latin American Spanish: derrotar
Swedish: slå besegra
Thai: ทำให้พ่ายแพ้
Turkish: yenmek
Ukrainian: обігравати
Vietnamese: đánh bại
All related terms of 'beat'
bt
beat
beat it
to go away
beat up
If someone beats a person up , they hit or kick the person many times.
beat back
to force to retreat ; drive back
beat down
When the sun beats down , it is very hot and bright .
beat off
to drive back; repel
beat out
If you beat out sounds on a drum or similar instrument, you make the sounds by hitting the instrument.
beat time
If you beat time to a piece of music, you move your hand or foot up and down in time with the music. A conductor beats time to show the choir or orchestra how fast they should sing or play the music.
big beat
an eclectic type of dance music in which heavy beats and samples are layered over the songs or instrumental tracks of other performers or bands
dead beat
If you are dead-beat , you are very tired and have no energy left.
beat about
to hunt or look through or around
beat poets
any of a number of U.S. poets concentrated in California in the 1950s and noted chiefly for their rejection of poetic as well as social conventions , exemplified through experimental , often informal phrasing and diction and formless verse that attempts to capture spontaneity of thought and feeling
Mersey beat
the characteristic pop music of the Beatles and other groups from Liverpool in the 1960s
world beat
popular , strongly rhythmic dance music of Africa, the Caribbean , Latin America, and, sometimes , Asia
beat up on
If someone beats up on a person or beats on them, they hit or kick the person many times.
beat a rival
Your rival is a person, business, or organization who you are competing or fighting against in the same area or for the same things.
Beat Generation
members of the generation that came to maturity in the 1950s, whose rejection of the social and political systems of the West was expressed through contempt for regular work, possessions, traditional dress, etc, and espousal of anarchism , communal living, drugs, etc
beat out of
If someone beats another person out of something, they get that thing by deceiving the other person or behaving dishonestly.
beat the rap
If you beat the rap , you avoid being blamed for something wrong that you have done.
beat up (on)
to give a beating to; thrash
miss a beat
If you say or do something without missing a beat , you continue to speak or do it, even though people might have expected you to hesitate or stop.
on the beat
A police officer on the beat is on duty , walking around the area for which he or she is responsible .
beat a retreat
to withdraw or depart in haste
offbeat
If you describe something or someone as offbeat , you think that they are different from normal.
beat all hollow
to outdo or surpass by far
beat an opponent
In a sporting contest , your opponent is the person who is playing against you.
beat one's brains
to try hard to remember , understand , or solve something
beat one's breast
to display guilt and remorse publicly or ostentatiously
beat one's gums
to talk much and idly
beat one's meat
to masturbate
beat someone to it
If you intend to do something but someone beats you to it , they do it before you do.
beat the bounds
(formerly) to define the boundaries of a parish by making a procession around them and hitting the ground with rods
beat the bushes
to try very hard to get or achieve something
beat the champions
A champion is someone who has won the first prize in a competition , contest , or fight .
beat the disease
A disease is an illness which affects people, animals, or plants, for example one which is caused by bacteria or infection .
beat to the draw
to be quicker than (another) in doing something, as in drawing one's weapon
beat your breast
to show regret or anger very publicly about something that has gone wrong in a way that is usually not sincere
beat oneself up
to reproach oneself
Bo Diddley beat
a type of syncopated rhythm , frequently used in rock music
can you beat it?
an expression of utter amazement or surprise
not miss a beat
to always know what is happening and so be able to take advantage of every situation
to beat the band
with great energy and vigor; fast and furiously
beat a dead horse
to argue an issue that is already settled
beat someone hollow
to defeat someone completely
beat the competition
The competition is the person or people you are competing with.
beat the drum for
to attempt to arouse interest in
beat to the punch
to be quicker than (another) in doing something, as in striking a blow
to beat a retreat
If you beat a retreat , you leave a place quickly in order to avoid an embarrassing or dangerous situation.
to beat the clock
If you beat the clock , you finish doing something or succeed in doing something before the time allowed for doing it has ended.
beat about the bush
to avoid the point at issue ; prevaricate
Chinese translation of 'beat'
beat
(biːt)
Word forms:ptbeat
Word forms:ppbeaten
n(c)
[of heart]跳动(動) (tiàodòng) (下, xià)
(Mus, = rhythm) 节(節)拍 (jiépāi) (个(個), gè)
[of policeman]巡逻(邏)区(區)域 (xúnluó qūyù)
⇒ on the beat在巡逻 (zài xúnluó)
vt
(= strike)[wife, child]打 (dǎ)
⇒ She was beaten to death.她被打死了。 (Tā bèi dǎsǐ le.)
[eggs, cream]搅(攪) (jiǎo)
(= defeat)[opponent, record]击(擊)败(敗) (jībài)
⇒ Arsenal beat Oxford United 5-1.阿森纳队以5比1击败了牛津联合队。 (Āsēnnà duì yǐ wǔ bǐ yī jībàile Niújīn liánhé duì.)
vi
[heart]跳动(動) (tiàodòng)
(= strike) 拍打 (pāidǎ)
⇒ The rain beat against the window.雨水打在窗户上。 (Yǔshuǐ dǎ zài chuānghu shang.)
⇒ Somebody was beating at the door.有人在用力敲门。 (Yǒu rén zài yònglì qiāomén.)
to beat time (Mus) 打拍子 (dǎ pāizi)
beat it! (inf) 走开(開)！ (zǒu kāi!)
you can't beat it什么(麼)也比不上它 (shénme yě bǐ bù shàng tā)
off the beaten track在人迹(跡)罕至之处(處) (zài rénjì hǎnzhì zhī chù)
All related terms of 'beat'
beat up
( person ) 狠打 hěn dǎ
beat it!
( inf ) 走开(開)！ zǒu kāi!
beat off
( attack, attacker ) 打退 dǎtuì
beat down
( rain ) 瓢泼(潑)而下 piáopō ér xià
to beat time
( Mus ) 打拍子 dǎ pāizi
you can't beat it
什么(麼)也比不上它 shénme yě bǐ bù shàng tā
to beat a hasty retreat
迅速逃离(離) xùnsù táolí
to beat about the bush
拐(枴)弯(彎)抹角 guǎi wān mò jiǎo
to beat sb to a pulp
把某人打得遍体(體)鳞(鱗)伤(傷) bǎ mǒurén dǎ de biàn tǐ lín shāng
to knock/beat sb unconscious
把某人打昏过(過)去 bǎ mǒurén dǎhūn guòqù
to beat oneself up about sth
( inf ) 因某事而折磨自己 yīn mǒushì ér zhémó zìjǐ
to beat sb at his own game
将(將)计(計)就计(計)地战(戰)胜(勝)某人 jiāng jì jiù jì de zhànshèng mǒurén
1 (verb)
Definition
to strike with a series of violent blows
He lost the boxing match and was badly beaten by his opponent.
Synonyms
batter
break
He listened to the waves breaking against the shore.
hit
She hit him hard across his left arm.
strike
knock
He was mucking around and he knocked her in the stomach.
punch
After punching him on the chin, she hit him over the head.
belt (informal)
Is it true that she belted George in the stomach?
whip
deck (slang)
bruise
bash (informal)
My mother bashed her shin with a suitcase.
sock (slang)
lash
The punishment for stealing bread is five lashes.
chin (slang)
pound
smack
thrash
He was thrashed with a cane until his skin turned red.
cane
thump
He thumped me, nearly knocking me over.
lick (informal)
buffet
clout (informal)
The officer clouted him on the head.
flog
He never flogs his horse no matter how slowly she goes.
whack (informal)
Someone whacked him on the head.
maul
The troops were severely mauled before evacuating the island.
clobber (slang)
She clobbered him with a vase.
wallop (informal)
She walloped me over the head with a cushion.
tonk (informal)
cudgel
He was beaten, cudgelled, and subjected to various dangers.
thwack (informal)
He just thwacked me on the back of the head with a ruler.
lambast(e)
lay one on (slang)
drub
tan (informal)
I'll tan his backside for him.
lam (informal)
beat or knock seven bells out of (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to strike with a series of violent blows
The rain was beating on the window panes.
Synonyms
pound
He pounded the table with his fist.
strike
hammer (informal)
He hammered the young left-hander in four straight sets.
batter
He battered his opponent around the head.
thrash
They thrashed their opponents 5-0.
pelt
Crowds started to pelt police cars with stones.
3 (verb)
Definition
to throb rhythmically
I felt my heart beat faster.
Synonyms
throb
His head throbbed.
pulse
Her feet pulsed with pain.
tick
thump
My heart was thumping wildly.
tremble
He began to tremble all over.
pound
I'm sweating and my heart is pounding.
quake
Her shoulders quaked.
quiver
His bottom lip quivered and big tears rolled down his cheeks.
vibrate
The noise vibrated through the whole house.
pulsate
The racing beat of her heart pulsated under my fingertips.
palpitate
His whole body was palpitating with fear.
4 (verb)
Definition
to produce (a sound) by striking a drum
When you beat the drum, you feel good.
Synonyms
hit
It hit me that I had a choice.
play
Think before playing the ball.
strike
She took two steps forward and struck him across the mouth.
bang
We could bang on the desks and shout until they let us out.
rap
A guard raps his stick on a metal hand rail.
hammer
Hammer a wooden peg into the hole.
5 (verb)
Definition
to stir or whisk vigorously
Beat the eggs and sugar until they start to thicken.
Synonyms
whisk
Whisk together the sugar and the egg yolks.
mix
Oil and water don't mix.
Mix the cinnamon with the sugar.
stir
Stir the soup for a few seconds.
fold
whip
Whip the cream until it is thick.
blend
Blend the ingredients until you have a smooth cream.
fluff up
6 (verb)
Definition
to move (wings) up and down
Its wings beat slowly.
Synonyms
flap
The bird flapped its wings furiously.
thrash
flutter
a butterfly fluttering its wings
agitate
Gently agitate the water with a paintbrush.
wag
The dog was barking and wagging its tail wildly.
swish
7 (verb)
Definition
to overcome or defeat
He was easily beaten into third place.
Synonyms
defeat
His troops defeated the opposing army.
outdo
trounce
Australia trounced France by sixty points to four.
overcome
the satisfaction of overcoming a rival
stuff (slang)
master
She needs to master her fears of becoming ill.
tank (slang)
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
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.
excel
Few dancers have excelled her in virtuosity.
surpass
overpower
Britain's tennis No.1 yesterday overpowered his American rival.
outstrip
In pursuing her ambition she outstripped everyone else.
clobber (slang)
vanquish
a happy ending in which the hero vanquishes the monsters
outrun
subjugate
Their costly attempt to subjugate the citizens lasted 10 years.
run rings around (informal)
wipe the floor with (informal)
knock spots off (informal)
make mincemeat of (informal)
pip at the post
outplay
blow out of the water (slang)
put in the shade (informal)
bring to their knees
8 (verb)
Definition
to arrive, achieve, or finish before (someone or something)
She was as eager as her captain to beat the record.
Synonyms
exceed
His performance exceeded all expectations.
best
top
How are you ever going to top that?
cap (informal)
He always has to cap everyone else's achievements.
eclipse
The gramophone was eclipsed by the compact disc.
surpass
He was determined to surpass the achievements of his older brothers.
transcend
issues like EU membership that transcend party loyalty
outdo
Both sides have tried to outdo each other.
go one better than (informal)
put in the shade
9 (verb)
Definition
to shape (metal) by repeated blows
Synonyms
shape
Like it or not, our families shape our lives.
work
Work the dough with your hands until it is very smooth.
form
The bowl was formed out of clay.
model
Sometimes she carved wood or modelled clay.
fashion
The desk was fashioned out of oak.
hammer
The barrels are hammered from cold steel.
forge
To forge a blade takes great skill.
1 (noun)
the rhythmic beat of the surf
Synonyms
pounding
striking
hammering
battering
thrashing
She dropped only eight points in her thrashing of the former champion.
thumping
2 (noun)
Definition
a regular throb
He could hear the beat of his heart.
Synonyms
throb
The bruise on his stomach ached with a steady throb.
pounding
pumping
pulse
the repetitive pulse of the music
thumping
vibration
They heard a distant low vibration in the distance.
pulsating
palpitation
pulsation
3 (noun)
Definition
the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
the dance beats of the last two decades
Synonyms
rhythm
His music fused the rhythms of jazz and classical music.
time
measure (prosody)
movement
pattern
swing
metre
accent
pulse
tempo
Elgar supplied his work with precise indications of tempo.
cadence
There was a sudden shift in the cadence of the music.
lilt
Her voice has a West Country lilt.
4 (noun)
Definition
an assigned route, as of a police officer
I was a relatively new PC on the beat, stationed in Hendon.
Synonyms
route
the most direct route to the town centre
way
Can you tell me the way to the station?
course
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
rounds
path
A group of reporters blocked his path.
The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
circuit
I get asked this question a lot when I'm on the lecture circuit.
5 (noun)
Synonyms
blow
He went off to hospital after a blow to the face.
hit
a hit on the head
strike
shake
swing
punch
He's asking for a punch on the nose.
belt (informal)
He gave me a belt over the head with a scrubbing brush.
slap
He reached forward and gave me a slap.
lash
They sentenced him to five lashes for stealing a ham from his neighbour.
thump
He felt a thump on his shoulder.
6 (noun)
Synonyms
rhythm
the rhythm and rhyme inherent in nursery rhymes
time
A reel is in four-four time.
measure (prosody)
stress
the misplaced stress on the first syllable
metre
accent
Talk very fast and put an accent on every third word.
cadence
He recognised the Polish cadences in her voice.
ictus
(adjective)
Definition
totally exhausted
(slang)
Synonyms
exhausted
She was too exhausted even to think clearly.
tired
He is tired and he has to rest after his long trip.
fatigued
How long have you been feeling fatigued?
wiped out (informal)
wearied
worn out
I was exhausted – worn out by the strain I'd been under.
clapped out (British, Australian, New Zealand, informal)
zonked (slang)
shagged out (British, slang)
on your last legs
idiom
See beat it
Phrasal verbs
See beat someone up
See beat something out
See beat yourself up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accent
Definition
the stress on a syllable or musical note
Talk very fast and put an accent on every third word.
Synonyms
stress,
force,
beat,
emphasis,
rhythm,
cadence,
timbre,
accentuation,
ictus
in the sense of agitate
Definition
to shake or stir (a liquid)
Gently agitate the water with a paintbrush.
Synonyms
stir,
beat,
mix,
shake,
disturb,
toss,
rouse,
churn
in the sense of bang
Definition
to hit or knock, esp. with a loud noise
We could bang on the desks and shout until they let us out.