verb
Uncommon
thrash
thrash
Thrash (verb) means to beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively. Example: “The home team thrashed their rivals five goals to nil.”
verb
1
To beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively.
"The home team thrashed their rivals five goals to nil."
"His father threatened to thrash him if he skipped school again."
2
To move about wildly and violently.
"The fish thrashed on the deck after being pulled from the water."
3
To subject a computer system to heavy, repeated demands for memory, causing it to slow down badly.
"With too many browser tabs open, the laptop began to thrash and freeze."
How to use thrash
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hit hard, beat decisively in a contest, or flail about wildly.
Common pairings
thrash about
thrash an opponent
thrash in the wind
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- thrashes
- Past tense
- thrashed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The home team _____ their rivals five goals to nil.
Etymology
A variant of "thresh" (to separate grain from stalks by beating), from Old English þrescan.
Related words
Rhymes for thrash
See all rhymes for thrash →Frequently asked questions
What does “thrash” mean?
The word “thrash” means to beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively. In plain terms, to hit hard, beat decisively in a contest, or flail about wildly.
How do you pronounce “thrash”?
“Thrash” is pronounced thrash (/θɹæʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “thrash” in a sentence?
Here is “thrash” used in a sentence: “The home team thrashed their rivals five goals to nil.”
What part of speech is “thrash”?
“Thrash” is a verb.
Where does the word “thrash” come from?
The word “thrash” comes from Old English. A variant of "thresh" (to separate grain from stalks by beating), from Old English þrescan.
Is “thrash” a common word?
“Thrash” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “thrash” have?
“Thrash” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to beat someone severely, or to defeat an opponent decisively.
