verb
cheat
CHEET
verb
1
To break rules in order to gain an unfair advantage.
"He was caught cheating on the exam and had to retake it."
"She accused her opponent of cheating during the card game."
2
To be sexually or romantically unfaithful to a partner.
"He cheated on his girlfriend while she was away."
3
To deceive or trick someone, often to take something from them.
"The salesman cheated elderly customers out of their savings."
noun
1
A person who cheats, or an act of cheating.
"Everyone at the table knew he was a cheat."
"The whole scheme was a cheat from the start."
How to Use Cheat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo break the rules — or be unfaithful — to gain something you shouldn't have.
Common pairings
cheat on an exam
cheat on a partner
cheat someone out of
Word Forms
cheated past tense, cheats plural, cheats singular
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Etymology
Ultimately from Old French escheat ("property that reverts to the state") — the sense shifted over time from an official legal term to the idea of unfairly taking something that isn't rightfully yours.