defeat
dih-FEET
Defeat (verb) means to beat someone in a fight, contest, or competition. Example: “The underdogs defeated the reigning champions.”
verb
1
To beat someone in a fight, contest, or competition.
"The underdogs defeated the reigning champions."
"Her argument defeated every objection raised."
"Our school chess club defeated the neighbouring town's team in a close final match."
2
To prevent something from succeeding or being achieved.
"Constant delays defeated the project's original purpose."
"Heavy rain defeated our plans for a picnic by the river."
"Poor planning will defeat even the most talented team in the end."
noun
1
An instance of losing, or of being overcome.
"The team suffered a heavy defeat in the final."
"After a long season, the club could not hide its disappointment at the defeat."
"Learning to accept defeat gracefully is an important part of playing any sport."
How to use defeat
Learner’s notes
Common pairings
crushing defeat
admit defeat
defeat the purpose
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like defeat.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- defeats
- Third person singular
- defeats
- Past tense
- defeated
- Archaic forms
- defeatest, defeatedst, defeateth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The underdogs _____ the reigning champions.
Etymology
From Middle English defeten, ultimately tied to a root meaning "undone" or "disfigured" — the sense of being ruined or destroyed came before the modern sporting sense.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for defeat
See all rhymes for defeat →Frequently asked questions
What does “defeat” mean?
The word “defeat” means to beat someone in a fight, contest, or competition.
How do you pronounce “defeat”?
“Defeat” is pronounced dih-FEET (/dɪˈfiːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “defeat” in a sentence?
Here is “defeat” used in a sentence: “The underdogs defeated the reigning champions.”
What is another word for “defeat”?
Words with a similar meaning to “defeat” include vanquish, overcome, beat, bring down, convince and chew up.
What is the opposite of “defeat”?
The opposite of “defeat” — its antonyms — are bite the dust, capitulate, eat someone's dust, forfeit and give up.
What part of speech is “defeat”?
Depending on how it is used, “defeat” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “defeat” come from?
The word “defeat” comes from Middle English. From Middle English defeten, ultimately tied to a root meaning "undone" or "disfigured" — the sense of being ruined or destroyed came before the modern sporting sense.
Is “defeat” a common word?
“Defeat” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between defeat and beat?
Both mean to overcome an opponent, and they are often interchangeable. Defeat is slightly more formal and emphasises the final outcome, common in reports of wars, elections, and major contests. Beat is more casual and conversational. You might beat a friend at chess, but an army defeats its enemy in battle.
What is the opposite of defeat as a verb?
As a verb meaning to beat someone, the opposite of defeat is to lose to them or be beaten by them. To defeat is to come out on top; to be defeated is to come out behind. Words like surrender, yield, or succumb also describe the losing side of a contest.
Is defeat a positive or negative word?
It depends on your side. Defeating an opponent is a victory and reads positively for the winner, suggesting strength and success. But being defeated carries a negative sense of loss or failure. The verb itself is neutral, describing the act of overcoming; the tone comes from whose perspective you take.
What is an example of defeat used as a verb?
You might say, "The champion defeated her challenger in three rounds," or "Our team defeated the league leaders on Saturday." In each case, defeat describes one side overcoming another in a contest or fight, with the defeated party left as the loser.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include defeat:
