beast
beest
Beast (noun) means a large or dangerous four-footed animal. Example: “The hunters tracked the huge beast through the snow for hours.”
noun
1
A large or dangerous four-footed animal.
"The hunters tracked the huge beast through the snow for hours."
"Children's stories often feature a hungry beast living in a dark cave."
"Villagers spoke of a beast prowling the woods at night."
2
A cruel, violent, or uncivilised person.
"The old landlord was a heartless beast who ignored every complaint from his tenants."
"She called him a beast for leaving the dog outside all night."
"Only a beast could treat an animal that way."
3
Informally, someone or something remarkably powerful, impressive, or difficult.
"Her new laptop is a beast and handles every video she edits."
"That new sports car is an absolute beast."
"The final exam was an absolute beast."
How to use beast
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wild or dangerous animal, a cruel person, or (informally) something impressively powerful or tough.
Common pairings
a wild beast
a beast of a machine
beast mode
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Word forms
- Plural
- beasts
- Third person singular
- beasts
- Past tense
- beasted
- Comparative
- more beast
- Superlative
- most beast
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hunters tracked the huge _____ through the snow for hours.
Etymology
From Old French beste (Modern French bête), from Latin bēstia, meaning "animal."
Related words
Rhymes for beast
See all rhymes for beast →Frequently asked questions
What does “beast” mean?
The word “beast” means a large or dangerous four-footed animal. In plain terms, a wild or dangerous animal, a cruel person, or (informally) something impressively powerful or tough.
How do you pronounce “beast”?
“Beast” is pronounced beest (/biːst/ in IPA).
How do you use “beast” in a sentence?
Here is “beast” used in a sentence: “Villagers spoke of a beast prowling the woods at night.”
What part of speech is “beast”?
“Beast” is a noun.
Where does the word “beast” come from?
The word “beast” comes from Latin. From Old French beste (Modern French bête), from Latin bēstia, meaning "animal.".
Is “beast” a common word?
“Beast” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “beast” have?
“Beast” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large or dangerous four-footed animal.
What is the difference between a 'beast' and an 'animal'?
'Animal' is a neutral, general term for any living creature that is not a plant. 'Beast' is more emotive and usually refers to a large or dangerous four-footed animal, and it can also describe a cruel or brutal person, which 'animal' does only in strong, figurative use.
What are common expressions using 'beast'?
Familiar phrases include 'wild beast', 'beast of burden' for a working animal, and 'the nature of the beast' for an unavoidable characteristic of something. 'Bring out the beast in someone' means to provoke their aggressive side.
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