bitpie交易所|defeat
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2024-03-13 06:41:18
DEFEAT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DEFEAT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
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Meaning of defeat in English
defeatverb [ T ] uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/ us
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/dɪˈfiːt/
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B1 to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition: Napoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo. They defeated the Italian team and reached the final. Synonyms
annihilate informal
beat (DEFEAT)
conquer
crush (BEAT)
hammer (DEFEAT) informal
thrash (DEFEAT) informal
trounce informalSee also
self-defeating
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to beat someone in a race, competition, etc.beatUnited beat City 3 - 2.defeatCan Ireland defeat New Zealand in this high-stakes match?conquerThe Greeks had fought and conquered the army of Mardonius.vanquishThe superhero always vanquishes his foes and saves the world.annihilateModern superpowers succeed not by annihilating their enemies but by buying them off.hammerThe Colts got hammered by the Patriots.
See more results »
B2 to cause someone or something to fail: The proposal to change the rules was narrowly defeated (= by a very small number) by 201 votes to 196. Our ambitions for this tournament have been defeated by the weather. I'm afraid anything that involves language learning has always defeated me (= I have been unable to do it).
More examplesFewer examplesThe French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.The team were overwhelmingly defeated in yesterday's game.The North defeated the South in the American Civil War.The bill was defeated in the Commons by 249 votes to 131.The four-times champion was unexpectedly defeated in the second round of the competition.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Winning and defeating
annihilate
annihilation
bank
be gunning for someone idiom
be one in the eye for someone idiom
convincing
move/go in for the kill idiom
near thing
outclass
outcompete
outfox
scrape
sew
slaughter
take someone down
take someone to the cleaner's idiom
take something apart
takedown
thrash
thrashing
See more results »
defeatnoun [ C or U ] uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/ us
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/dɪˈfiːt/
B1 the fact of losing against someone in a fight or competition, or when someone or something is made to fail: In the last election, they suffered a crushing/humiliating defeat. After their defeat in battle, the soldiers surrendered. She admitted/conceded defeat well before all the votes had been counted. Compare
victory
admit defeat
to accept that you cannot do something: I thought I could fix the radio myself, but I had to admit defeat.
See more
More examplesFewer examplesThe Democrats suffered a crushing defeat in the last election.Her silence was taken as an admission of defeat.He was famed for his stubborn resistance and his refusal to accept defeat.Saturday's 2-0 defeat dashed their hopes of reaching the final.His defeat in the world championship led to a long period of gloomy introspection.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Winning and defeating
annihilate
annihilation
bank
be gunning for someone idiom
be one in the eye for someone idiom
convincing
move/go in for the kill idiom
near thing
outclass
outcompete
outfox
scrape
sew
slaughter
take someone down
take someone to the cleaner's idiom
take something apart
takedown
thrash
thrashing
See more results »
(Definition of defeat from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
defeat | American Dictionary
defeatverb [ T ] us
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/dɪˈfit/
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Add to word list
to oppose and cause someone to lose in a competition or war so that you can win: Bill Clinton defeated George Bush for the presidency in 1992.
defeatnoun [ C/U ] us
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/dɪˈfit/
success in competition with an opponent, causing the opponent to lose so that you can win: [ U ] In the American Civil War, the North’s defeat of the South involved tremendous loss of life on both sides.
A defeat is also the action or fact of losing a competition or war: [ C ] This was the team’s fifth straight defeat.
(Definition of defeat from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of defeat
defeat
In fact, any error in measuring the favourability of news coverage would have defeated the purpose, which was to estimate media effects.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
The movement was defeated but repression was quite limited.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
On reflection, however, these corresponding victories and defeats do not tell the true story.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
If defeated, he would immediately call a general election.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Many exclusivists are epistemically impoverished, and thus the epistemic status of their exclusive beliefs may well be lessened or defeated by religious diversity.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Television seems to me inimical to this inner sense, which is defeated by the ephemerality of the televisual flow.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Revelations and confessions produce resolution and stability by defeating ignorance and equalising the knowledge of the audience and the characters.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
During the porfiriato, challenges to authority in the factory were usually and regularly defeated.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Among the latter, some viewed workers as eliteled, while others saw them as radical and threatening but defeated by 1916\17.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
With a financial system based on municipal rents, the possibility of decent maintenance and upkeep was defeated by the massive scale of non-payment.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Parts of a defeated group's inkatha were incorporated into that of the victorious group.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist reduces emotionality in socially defeated rats via direct neurotropic action.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Obviously recent defeats, outrage at domestic political developments and unfavourable international circumstances all played a major role in such a cycle of commitment.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Candidates running against the establishment were defeating candidates who had until recently appeared unbeatable.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
Only historical materialism could take "the tiger's leap into the past" to bring back to consciousness precisely the defeated, marginalized, and forgotten resisters.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
See all examples of defeat
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Collocations with defeat
defeat
These are words often used in combination with defeat.Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
admission of defeatThis is a rallying cry rather than an admission of defeat, however, and research proceeds apace.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
admitting defeatIn such a case, however, the proper response is not simply to ignore the challenge, but rather to put off admitting defeat, acknowledging the need for further study.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
certain defeatOtherwise, the defendant would expect near certain defeat in court.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
See all collocations with defeat
What is the pronunciation of defeat?
B1,B2,B1
Translations of defeat
in Chinese (Traditional)
擊敗，打敗，戰勝, 使失敗，使落空, 失敗…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
击败，打败，战胜, 使失败，使落空, 失败…
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in Spanish
derrotar, derrota, ganar…
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in Portuguese
derrotar, vencer, derrota…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
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in Ukrainian
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in Italian
युद्ध किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध जिंकणे, एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी ठरविणे, एखाद्या लढाईत किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध पराभूत होणे किंवा जेव्हा एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी बनवले जाते तेव्हाची वस्तुस्थिती…
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～を負かす, 負け, 打（う）ち負（ま）かす…
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galip gelmek, yenmek, mağlup etmek…
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battre, vaincre, faire échouer…
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derrotar, derrota…
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verslaan, nederlaag…
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சண்டை, போர் அல்லது போட்டியில் ஒருவரை எதிர்த்து வெல்ல, யாரோ ஒருவர் அல்லது ஏதோ ஒன்று தோல்வியடைய காரணமாக…
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(लड़ाई, युद्ध या प्रतियोगिता में) हराना या पराजित करना, (किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को) निष्फल करना…
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હરાવવું, પરાજય આપવો, હાર…
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slå, besejre, nederlag…
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besegra, slå, nederlag…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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besiegen, die Niederlage…
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slå, beseire, sette en stopper for…
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شکست دینا, ہرانا, ناکام بنانا…
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розбивати, завдавати поразки, поразка…
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наносить поражение, проваливать, расстраивать…
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ఓటమి, ఓడిపోవడం, ఒకరిని లేక ఒకదాన్ని విఫలమయ్యేలా చేయడం.…
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يَهْزِم, هَزيمة…
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হারিয়ে দেওয়া, পরাজিত করা, ব্যর্থ হওয়া বা ব্যর্থ করা…
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porazit, porážka…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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เอาชนะ, ความพ่ายแพ้…
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đánh bại, sự thất bại…
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pokonywać, udaremnić, niweczyć…
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패배시키다, 패배…
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sconfiggere, sconfitta…
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default to something
defaulted
defaulter
defaulting
defeat
defeated
defeating
defeatism
defeatist
More meanings of defeat
All
admit defeat phrase
admit defeat
defeat the object
snatch victory (from the jaws of defeat) idiom
See all meanings
Idioms and phrases
admit defeat phrase
snatch victory (from the jaws of defeat) idiom
See all idioms and phrases
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an answer or reaction
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Contents
English
Verb
Noun
defeat
admit defeat
American
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Defeat Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Defeat Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
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Est. 1828
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Definition
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noun
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defeat
1 of 2
verb
de·feat
di-ˈfēt
dē-
defeated; defeating; defeats
Synonyms of defeat
transitive verb
1
: to win victory over : beat
defeated their archrivals in the championship game The bill was defeated in the Senate.
2
a
: frustrate sense 2a(1)
defeat a hope
b
law
: nullify
defeat an estate
3
obsolete
: destroy
… his unkindness may defeat my life …—Shakespeare
defeatable
di-ˈfē-tə-bəl
dē-
adjective
defeat
2 of 2
noun
1
: frustration by nullification or by prevention of success
The bill suffered defeat in the Senate.
2
a
: an overthrow especially of an army in battle
celebrate their defeat of the enemy
b
: the loss of a contest
his first defeat as a professional boxer
3
obsolete
: destruction
… upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made.—Shakespeare
Synonyms
Verb
beat
best
conquer
dispatch
do down [British]
get
get around
lick
master
overbear
overcome
overmatch
prevail (over)
skunk
stop
subdue
surmount
take
trim
triumph (over)
upend
win (against)
worst
Noun
beating
drubbing
licking
loss
lump
overthrow
plastering
rout
shellacking
trimming
trouncing
whipping
See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for defeat
conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of.
Caesar conquered Gaul
vanquish implies a complete overpowering.
vanquished the enemy and ended the war
defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.
the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas
subdue implies a defeating and suppression.
subdued the native tribes after years of fighting
reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.
the city was reduced after a month-long siege
overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.
overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks
overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.
violently overthrew the old regime
Examples of defeat in a Sentence
Verb
We must be ready to defeat our enemies in battle.
Our candidate defeated him in the last election.
She finally found a solution to a problem that had defeated many other researchers.
The bill was defeated in the state senate.
Scientists from around the world are working to defeat the disease.
Noun
We weren't prepared for defeat.
One small error could make the difference between success and defeat.
After several tries we were forced to accept defeat.
They celebrated their defeat of the enemy.
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Recent Examples on the WebVerb
There are a variety of parallels, ranging from complaints that British elites were conspiring with the American liberal establishment to drag Washington’s unnecessary war to claims that [British Prime Minister Winston] Churchill and co. were doomed to defeat against the Third Reich.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
The last time, in 1956, Republican president Dwight Eisenhower defeated Democrat Adlai Stevenson for the second time in a contest that, at least in retrospect, seems gentlemanly.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Oakland Tech’s boys team, fresh off defeating rival Oakland in a regional final, will try to carry the momentum into the Division II state title game on Saturday against Centennial-Bakersfield.
—Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024
Voters in Virginia think Trump likely to defeat Biden
Looking ahead to the general election in November, most Republican primary voters in Virginia think Donald is very likely to defeat Joe Biden.
—Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024
Cotham, an at-large commissioner first elected in 2012, trailed the top three vote-getters throughout the night, becoming the rare Mecklenburg at-large incumbent to be defeated.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024
The outcome left lawmakers from Gary, who staunchly opposed the bill, feeling defeated.
—The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024
Biden was defeated by previously unknown candidate Jason Palmer, 51 votes to 40.
—Will Weissert, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024
Pargas was reelected to his county commission seat less than six months after the tragedy, defeating three write-in candidates who included Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie was killed in the massacre.
—Rachel Clarke, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
Noun
For every big victory, there will be at least one small defeat.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
Read more Photo of the day: A stunning defeat for USWNT
History was made Monday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, when the U.S. women's national team lost for just the second time in 43 matchups with Mexico, falling 2-0 in the Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage game.
—USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
Haley’s 20-point defeat means the former governor and UN ambassador has an infinitesimal chance of thwarting Trump's path to the Republican presidential nomination.
—Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2024
During a season in which a tireless Athletic side has only tasted a home defeat against Real Madrid, the region’s best will square up against something similarly intensive in Bielsa and Uruguay.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
The only defeats by Las Lomas this season occurred before the start of the new year.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024
Still, with Ukraine continuing to arm itself amid the invasion (and having recently suffered a crushing defeat in the region of Avdiivka), more outside aid is needed, and Ukrainian leaders have expressed frustration at the apparent lack of urgency.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024
And with Goliath, their champion, now slain, the Philistines accept defeat.
—Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024
Anyone hoping Bayern Munich would show a reaction to their 3-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen by smashing Lazio in the round of 16 will be bitterly disappointed.
—Manuel Veth, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'defeat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English defeten, defaiten "to ruin, destroy, nullify," in part verbal derivative of defet "disfigured, null and void (in law)," borrowed from Anglo-French defait, defet, desfet, past participle of defaire, desfaire "to undo, put an end to, destroy, nullify," from de-, des- de- + faire "to do, make," going back to Latin facere; in part borrowed from Anglo-French defeter, derivative of defet — more at fact
Noun
in part noun derivative of defeat entry 1, in part borrowed from Middle French defaite, noun derivative from feminine of defait, past participle of defaire, desfaire "to undo, destroy, kill" — more at defeat entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Noun
1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of defeat was
in the 15th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing defeat
admit defeat
defeat the purpose of
go down to defeat
concede defeat
in defeat
the jaws of defeat
Dictionary Entries Near defeat
defeasible
defeat
defeatism
See More Nearby Entries
Cite this Entry
Style
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defeat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
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Kids Definition
defeat
1 of 2
verb
de·feat
di-ˈfēt
1
: to destroy the value or effect of
the lawyers defeated the will
2
: to win a victory over
defeated their team
defeatable
-ˈfēt-ə-bəl
adjective
defeat
2 of 2
noun
1
: the act or an instance of making ineffective by prevention of success
the bill suffered defeat by Congress the defeat of one's hopes
2
a
: an overthrow of an army in battle
b
: loss of a contest (as by a team)
Legal Definition
defeat
transitive verb
de·feat
1
a
: to render null
third parties will defeat an attached but “unperfected” security interest—J. J. White and R. S. Summers
b
: to prevent or undo the effectiveness or establishment of
defeat jurisdiction defendant took stand and defeated intoxication defense—National Law Journal
2
a
: to prevail over
b
: to thwart the claim of
defeat creditors an intent to defeat the surviving spouse of his…elective share—Tennessee Code Annotated
defeat
noun
Etymology
Transitive verb
Anglo-French defait, past participle of defaire to undo, defeat, from Old French deffaire desfaire, from de-, prefix marking reversal of action + faire to do
More from Merriam-Webster on defeat
Nglish: Translation of defeat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of defeat for Arabic Speakers
Last Updated:
12 Mar 2024
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DEFEAT Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
DEFEAT Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
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Est. 1828
Thesaurus
Synonyms of defeat
verb
as in to overcome
noun
as in loss
as in collapse
as in to overcomeas in lossas in collapse
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defeat
1 of 2
verb
Definition of defeat
as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over
they defeated their archrivals easily and moved into the next round of the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
overcome
master
beat
worst
conquer
take
best
get
stop
dispatch
subdue
surmount
succeed
overmatch
triumph (over)
win (against)
upend
lick
prevail (over)
get the better of
overbear
get around
trim
skunk
do down
overwhelm
crush
finish
slaughter
sweep
bury
knock for a loop
upset
surpass
rout
annihilate
vanquish
score
blow out
better
overthrow
drub
trounce
exceed
blow away
snow under
bomb
clobber
flatten
edge (out)
subjugate
whip
nose out
flourish
excel
thrash
break
overpower
skin
cap
unseat
smoke
cream
top
transcend
wallop
pip
knock over
outdistance
outdo
eclipse
outfight
outshine
shellac
wax
outstrip
ace (out)
knock off
overtop
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
lose (to)
fall
go down
fail
give up
collapse
go under
fold
wash out
flop
flunk
See More
defeat
2 of 2
noun
1
as in loss
failure to win a contest
sore losers still griping about their defeat in the basketball game earlier that week
Synonyms & Similar Words
loss
beating
setback
overthrow
rout
failure
whipping
drubbing
trimming
trouncing
licking
collapse
upset
shellacking
plastering
fiasco
debacle
flop
shutout
lump
washout
débâcle
whitewash
nonsuccess
lurch
fizzle
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
victory
success
triumph
win
achievement
accomplishment
sweep
landslide
runaway
blowout
cakewalk
romp
walkover
walkaway
See More
2
as in collapse
a falling short of one's goals
truly disheartened by the defeat of his plans to revitalize downtown
Synonyms & Similar Words
collapse
failure
crash
setback
cropper
fizzle
disappointment
nonsuccess
futility
nonachievement
deficiency
ineffectiveness
uselessness
inefficacy
ineffectuality
inadequacy
letdown
ineffectualness
insufficiency
inefficaciousness
inadequateness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
success
achievement
victory
accomplishment
win
Synonym Chooser
How does the verb defeat differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of defeat are conquer, overcome, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.
the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas
When is conquer a more appropriate choice than defeat?
In some situations, the words conquer and defeat are roughly equivalent. However, conquer implies gaining mastery of.
Caesar conquered Gaul
When could overcome be used to replace defeat?
While in some cases nearly identical to defeat, overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.
overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks
When might overthrow be a better fit than defeat?
While the synonyms overthrow and defeat are close in meaning, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.
violently overthrew the old regime
When can reduce be used instead of defeat?
The meanings of reduce and defeat largely overlap; however, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.
the city was reduced after a month-long siege
Where would subdue be a reasonable alternative to defeat?
The words subdue and defeat are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, subdue implies a defeating and suppression.
subdued the native tribes after years of fighting
When would vanquish be a good substitute for defeat?
The synonyms vanquish and defeat are sometimes interchangeable, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.
vanquished the enemy and ended the war
Thesaurus Entries Near defeat
defeasances
defeat
defeated
See More Nearby Entries
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Merriam-Webster
“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defeat. Accessed 12 Mar. 2024.
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Nglish: Translation of defeat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of defeat for Arabic Speakers
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DEFEAT Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
DEFEAT Definition & Usage Examples | Dictionary.com
GamesDaily CrosswordWord PuzzleWord FinderAll gamesFeaturedWord of the DaySynonym of the DayWord of the YearNew wordsLanguage storiesAll featuredPop cultureSlangEmojiMemesAcronymsGender and sexualityAll pop cultureWriting tipsGrammar Coach™Writing hubGrammar essentialsCommonly confusedAll writing tipsGamesFeaturedPop cultureWriting tipsdefeat[ dih-feet ]show ipaSee synonyms for: defeatdefeateddefeatingdefeats on Thesaurus.comverb (used with object)to overcome in a contest, election, battle, etc.; prevail over; vanquish: They defeated the enemy.She defeated her brother at tennis.to frustrate; thwart. to eliminate or deprive of something expected: The early returns defeated his hopes of election.Law. to annul. See morenounthe act of overcoming in a contest: an overwhelming defeat of all opposition.an instance of defeat; setback: He considered his defeat a personal affront.an overthrow or overturning; vanquishment: the defeat of a government.a bringing to naught; frustration: the defeat of all his hopes and dreams.the act or event of being bested; a beating: Defeat is not something she abides easily.Archaic. undoing; destruction; ruin.See moreOrigin of defeat1First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English defeten (verb), from Anglo-French, Old French desfait, past participle of desfaire “to undo, destroy,” from Medieval Latin disfacere, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + facere “to do”synonym study For defeat1. Defeat, conquer, overcome, subdue imply gaining a victory or control over an opponent. Defeat suggests beating or frustrating: to defeat an enemy in battle. Conquer implies finally gaining control over, usually after a series of efforts or against systematic resistance: to conquer a country, one's inclinations. Overcome emphasizes surmounting difficulties in prevailing over an antagonist: to overcome opposition, bad habits. Subdue means to conquer so completely that resistance is broken: to subdue a rebellious spirit.Other words for defeat1 overwhelm, overthrow, rout, subdue 2 foil, baffle, balk 7 downfallSee synonyms for defeat on Thesaurus.comOther words from defeatde·feat·er, nounnon·de·feat, nounpre·de·feat, noun, verbre·de·feat, verb, nounWords Nearby defeatdefaulterDEFCONdefeasancedefeasedefeasibledefeatdefeateddefeatismdefeatistdefeaturedefecateDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024How to use defeat in a sentenceHis defeat six months later was virtually assured in that moment.The case for Jimmy Carter as a ‘consequential’ president | Russell L. Riley | December 4, 2020 | Washington PostIt’s a trade opponents are willing to make, because treating Hill like any other receiver, even any other very good receiver, is inviting defeat.What to know from NFL Week 12: Tyreek Hill and Derrick Henry took over as the coronavirus loomed | Adam Kilgore | November 30, 2020 | Washington PostThey’ll win the Pac-12 North with defeats of California and Washington the next two weeks, and probably go to the Fiesta Bowl if they win the league.College football winners and losers: Pac-12 playoff hopes disappear with Oregon’s loss | Patrick Stevens | November 29, 2020 | Washington PostPhiladelphia responded to that defeat by firing Coach Brett Brown and replacing him with Doc Rivers, who was let go by the Los Angeles Clippers.Daryl Morey in advanced talks to lead 76ers’ front office | Ben Golliver | October 28, 2020 | Washington PostMany classified the incident as a catastrophic defeat for the government, but the analysis from the Mexico Violence Resource Project suggests a more nuanced interpretation of the impact of those events.Border Report: The Asylum Process Is in Limbo | Maya Srikrishnan | October 19, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoHe rebuffed calls to institute the death penalty, and his last term as governor ended in his defeat.Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82 | Eleanor Clift | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter the defeat of ISIS in Sinjar, most other locals have been left wondering who might rule the city in the near future.Has the Kurdish Victory at Sinjar Turned the Tide of ISIS War? | Niqash | December 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat defeat was driven largely by Romney losing women voters by an insurmountable 11 points.Surprise! The GOP Closed the Gender Gap | Patricia Murphy | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn recent days, there has been a subtle feeling of defeat permeating through the camp.The Monuments Men of Occupy Hong Kong | Brendon Hong | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut it certainly contributed, and purposely so, to the defeat of the tough Likud hardliner Yitzhak Shamir in 1992.The Inside Story of U.S. Meddling in Israel’s Elections | Aaron David Miller | December 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe saw Gen. Braddock as he passed on to his defeat, and could give a succinct account of that sanguinary action.The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellThe friars were exceedingly wroth, and combined to defeat the Generalʼs efforts to come to an understanding with the rebels.The Philippine Islands | John ForemanHe will tell you about the success he had in America; it quite makes up for the defeat of the British army in the Revolution.Confidence | Henry JamesBut after the defeat at Leipzig King Joachim asked and obtained leave to return to his own dominions.Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonBut she had experienced an hour of mixed emotions in which a confused and wondering sense of defeat was paramount.Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonSee More ExamplesBritish Dictionary definitions for defeatdefeat/ (dɪˈfiːt) /verb(tr)to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory overto thwart or frustrate: this accident has defeated all his hopes of winninglaw to render null and void; annulSee morenounthe act of defeating or state of being defeatedan instance of defeatoverthrow or destructionlaw an annulmentSee moreOrigin of defeat1C14: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des- dis- 1 + faire to do, from Latin facereDerived forms of defeatdefeater, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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DEFEAT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
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English
Meaning of defeat in English
defeatverb [ T ] us
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/dɪˈfiːt/ uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/
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B1 to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition: Napoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo. They defeated the Italian team and reached the final. Synonyms
annihilate informal
beat (DEFEAT)
conquer
crush (BEAT)
hammer (DEFEAT) informal
thrash (DEFEAT) informal
trounce informalSee also
self-defeating
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to beat someone in a race, competition, etc.beatThe Blackhawks beat the Bruins 3 - 2.defeatCan the Ravens defeat the Bears in this high-stakes wild-card game?conquerThe Greeks had fought and conquered the army of Mardonius.vanquishThe superhero always vanquishes his foes and saves the world.annihilateModern superpowers succeed not by annihilating their enemies but by buying them off.hammerThe Colts got hammered by the Patriots.
See more results »
B2 to cause someone or something to fail: The proposal to change the rules was narrowly defeated (= by a very small number) by 201 votes to 196. Our ambitions for this tournament have been defeated by the weather. I'm afraid anything that involves language learning has always defeated me (= I have been unable to do it).
More examplesFewer examplesThe French were defeated at Waterloo in 1815.The team was overwhelmingly defeated in yesterday's game.The North defeated the South in the American Civil War.The bill was defeated in the Commons by 249 votes to 131.The four-times champion was unexpectedly defeated in the second round of the competition.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Winning and defeating
annihilate
annihilation
bank
be gunning for someone idiom
be one in the eye for someone idiom
convincing
moral victory
move/go in for the kill idiom
near thing
outclass
outcompete
scrape
slaughter
sweep the board idiom
take someone down
take someone to the cleaner's idiom
take something apart
takedown
thrash
vanquish
See more results »
defeatnoun [ C or U ] us
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/dɪˈfiːt/ uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/
B1 the fact of losing against someone in a fight or competition, or when someone or something is made to fail: In the last election, they suffered a crushing/humiliating defeat. After their defeat in battle, the soldiers surrendered. She admitted/conceded defeat well before all the votes had been counted. Compare
victory
admit defeat
to accept that you cannot do something: I thought I could fix the radio myself, but I had to admit defeat.
See more
More examplesFewer examplesThe Democrats suffered a crushing defeat in the last election.Her silence was taken as an admission of defeat.He was famed for his stubborn resistance and his refusal to accept defeat.Saturday's 2-0 defeat dashed their hopes of reaching the final.His defeat in the world championship led to a long period of gloomy introspection.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Winning and defeating
annihilate
annihilation
bank
be gunning for someone idiom
be one in the eye for someone idiom
convincing
moral victory
move/go in for the kill idiom
near thing
outclass
outcompete
scrape
slaughter
sweep the board idiom
take someone down
take someone to the cleaner's idiom
take something apart
takedown
thrash
vanquish
See more results »
(Definition of defeat from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
defeat | Intermediate English
defeatverb [ T ] us
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/dɪˈfit/
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to oppose and cause someone to lose in a competition or war so that you can win: Bill Clinton defeated George Bush for the presidency in 1992.
defeatnoun [ C/U ] us
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/dɪˈfit/
success in competition with an opponent, causing the opponent to lose so that you can win: [ U ] In the American Civil War, the North’s defeat of the South involved tremendous loss of life on both sides.
A defeat is also the action or fact of losing a competition or war: [ C ] This was the team’s fifth straight defeat.
(Definition of defeat from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of defeat
defeat
Not a great price to pay for a big defeat.
From The Atlantic
It is far too early for panic with 14 games left, even after a defeat that looked like so many others before it.
From MLive.com
I am teleported into a different world where pirate ships are defeated, and new lands discovered.
From Huffington Post
History can only start for us with the first real defeat of empire.
From Huffington Post
Every game, every skirmish, every foray in business carries the possibility of setback or defeat.
From Fast Company
But be sure to get the unsweetened kind or else you're defeating the purpose of this whole retraining exercise!
From Huffington Post
And we can resolve that even a successful attack will not defeat our way of life.
From ABC News
In 2012, when they laid out their own wares in full for the country to inspect, they got soundly defeated.
From The New Yorker
If you believe action is imminent, be prepared to unleash a first strike, and have plans in place for both victory and defeat.
From TechCrunch
He also ran again for mayor in 2014 but was defeated.
From NBCNews.com
The result is much discussion and debate over strategies that may postpone your inevitable defeat.
From Ars Technica
In a two-player game, a quick defeat is inevitable if you choose two characters who specialize.
From Ars Technica
This is achieved by defeating the last monster in the book, but before doing so you have to get through the other five.
From Ars Technica
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Collocations with defeat
defeat
These are words often used in combination with defeat. Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.
admission of defeatThis is a rallying cry rather than an admission of defeat, however, and research proceeds apace.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
admitting defeatIn such a case, however, the proper response is not simply to ignore the challenge, but rather to put off admitting defeat, acknowledging the need for further study.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
certain defeatOtherwise, the defendant would expect near certain defeat in court.
From the Cambridge English Corpus
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
See all collocations with defeat
What is the pronunciation of defeat?
B1,B2,B1
Translations of defeat
in Chinese (Traditional)
擊敗，打敗，戰勝, 使失敗，使落空, 失敗…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
击败，打败，战胜, 使失败，使落空, 失败…
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in Spanish
derrotar, derrota, ganar…
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in Portuguese
derrotar, vencer, derrota…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Japanese
in Turkish
in French
in Catalan
in Dutch
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Gujarati
in Danish
in Swedish
in Malay
in German
in Norwegian
in Urdu
in Ukrainian
in Russian
in Telugu
in Arabic
in Bengali
in Czech
in Indonesian
in Thai
in Vietnamese
in Polish
in Korean
in Italian
युद्ध किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध जिंकणे, एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी ठरविणे, एखाद्या लढाईत किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध पराभूत होणे किंवा जेव्हा एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी बनवले जाते तेव्हाची वस्तुस्थिती…
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～を負かす, 負け, 打（う）ち負（ま）かす…
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galip gelmek, yenmek, mağlup etmek…
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battre, vaincre, faire échouer…
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derrotar, derrota…
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verslaan, nederlaag…
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சண்டை, போர் அல்லது போட்டியில் ஒருவரை எதிர்த்து வெல்ல, யாரோ ஒருவர் அல்லது ஏதோ ஒன்று தோல்வியடைய காரணமாக…
See more
(लड़ाई, युद्ध या प्रतियोगिता में) हराना या पराजित करना, (किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को) निष्फल करना…
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હરાવવું, પરાજય આપવો, હાર…
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slå, besejre, nederlag…
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besegra, slå, nederlag…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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besiegen, die Niederlage…
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slå, beseire, sette en stopper for…
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شکست دینا, ہرانا, ناکام بنانا…
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розбивати, завдавати поразки, поразка…
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наносить поражение, проваливать, расстраивать…
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ఓటమి, ఓడిపోవడం, ఒకరిని లేక ఒకదాన్ని విఫలమయ్యేలా చేయడం.…
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يَهْزِم, هَزيمة…
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হারিয়ে দেওয়া, পরাজিত করা, ব্যর্থ হওয়া বা ব্যর্থ করা…
See more
porazit, porážka…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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เอาชนะ, ความพ่ายแพ้…
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đánh bại, sự thất bại…
See more
pokonywać, udaremnić, niweczyć…
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패배시키다, 패배…
See more
sconfiggere, sconfitta…
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default to something
defaulted
defaulter
defaulting
defeat
defeated
defeating
defeatism
defeatist
More meanings of defeat
All
admit defeat phrase
admit defeat
defeat the object
snatch victory (from the jaws of defeat) idiom
See all meanings
Idioms and phrases
admit defeat phrase
snatch victory (from the jaws of defeat) idiom
See all idioms and phrases
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response
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/rɪˈspɒns/
US
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/rɪˈspɑːns/
an answer or reaction
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Contents
English
Verb
Noun
defeat
admit defeat
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DEFEAT | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary
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Meaning of defeat – Learner’s Dictionary
defeatverb [ T ] uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/ us
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defeat verb [T]
(WIN)
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B1 to win against someone in a fight or competition: She was defeated by an Australian player in the first round of the tournament.
More examplesFewer examplesWales was defeated 5-1 by Norway.William defeated him at the Battle of the Boyne.He was defeated in the 1958 election.She defeated Davenport 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.He was defeated by three votes.
defeat verb [T]
(MAKE FAIL)
B2 to make someone or something fail: The bill was narrowly defeated in parliament.
defeatnoun uk
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/dɪˈfiːt/ us
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defeat noun
(LOSE)
B1 an occasion when someone loses against someone else in a fight or competition: The Chicago Cubs have suffered their worst defeat of the season.
More examplesFewer examplesa humiliating defeata crushing defeatEngland's 2-1 defeat by FranceHe was reluctant to admit defeat.The senator conceded defeat after the first few results were announced.
defeat noun
(FAIL)
B2 an occasion when someone or something is made to fail: the defeat of apartheid
(Definition of defeat from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Translations of defeat
in Chinese (Traditional)
擊敗，打敗，戰勝, 使失敗，使落空, 失敗…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
击败，打败，战胜, 使失败，使落空, 失败…
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in Spanish
derrotar, derrota, ganar…
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in Portuguese
derrotar, vencer, derrota…
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युद्ध किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध जिंकणे, एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी ठरविणे, एखाद्या लढाईत किंवा स्पर्धेत एखाद्याविरुद्ध पराभूत होणे किंवा जेव्हा एखाद्याला किंवा एखाद्या गोष्टीला अपयशी बनवले जाते तेव्हाची वस्तुस्थिती…
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～を負かす, 負け, 打（う）ち負（ま）かす…
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galip gelmek, yenmek, mağlup etmek…
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battre, vaincre, faire échouer…
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derrotar, derrota…
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verslaan, nederlaag…
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சண்டை, போர் அல்லது போட்டியில் ஒருவரை எதிர்த்து வெல்ல, யாரோ ஒருவர் அல்லது ஏதோ ஒன்று தோல்வியடைய காரணமாக…
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(लड़ाई, युद्ध या प्रतियोगिता में) हराना या पराजित करना, (किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को) निष्फल करना…
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હરાવવું, પરાજય આપવો, હાર…
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slå, besejre, nederlag…
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besegra, slå, nederlag…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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besiegen, die Niederlage…
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slå, beseire, sette en stopper for…
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شکست دینا, ہرانا, ناکام بنانا…
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розбивати, завдавати поразки, поразка…
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наносить поражение, проваливать, расстраивать…
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ఓటమి, ఓడిపోవడం, ఒకరిని లేక ఒకదాన్ని విఫలమయ్యేలా చేయడం.…
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يَهْزِم, هَزيمة…
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হারিয়ে দেওয়া, পরাজিত করা, ব্যর্থ হওয়া বা ব্যর্থ করা…
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porazit, porážka…
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mengalahkan, kekalahan…
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เอาชนะ, ความพ่ายแพ้…
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đánh bại, sự thất bại…
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pokonywać, udaremnić, niweczyć…
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패배시키다, 패배…
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sconfiggere, sconfitta…
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deer
deface
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defeat
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defect
defence
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concede defeat
a narrow defeat/victory
suffer damage/defeat/loss, etc
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Contents
Learner’s Dictionary
Verb
defeat (WIN)
defeat (MAKE FAIL)
Noun
defeat (LOSE)
defeat (FAIL)
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defeat - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
defeat - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
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UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈfiːt/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɪˈfit/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(di fēt′)
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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024de•feat /dɪˈfit/USA pronunciation
v. [ ~ + obj]
to overcome in a contest; beat:He was defeated in the last election.
to frustrate; thwart:This kind of problem always defeats me.
n. the act of overcoming in a contest:[uncountable]didn't accept defeat well.
an instance of defeat; setback:[countable]He suffered several defeats in close elections.
de•feat•er, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024de•feat
(di fēt′),USA pronunciation v.t.
to overcome in a contest, election, battle, etc.; prevail over; vanquish:They defeated the enemy. She defeated her brother at tennis.
to frustrate; thwart.
to eliminate or deprive of something expected:The early returns defeated his hopes of election.
Lawto annul.
n. the act of overcoming in a contest:an overwhelming defeat of all opposition.
an instance of defeat; setback:He considered his defeat a personal affront.
an overthrow or overturning; vanquishment:the defeat of a government.
a bringing to naught; frustration:the defeat of all his hopes and dreams.
the act or event of being bested; losing:Defeat is not something she abides easily.
[Archaic.]undoing; destruction; ruin.
Medieval Latin disfacere, equivalent. to Latin dis- dis-1 + facere to do Anglo-French, Old French desfait, past participle of desfaire to undo, destroy Middle English defeten (verb, verbal) 1325–75
de•feat′er, n.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged overwhelm, overthrow, rout, check. Defeat, conquer, overcome, subdue imply gaining a victory or control over an opponent. Defeat suggests beating or frustrating:to defeat an enemy in battle.Conquer implies finally gaining control over, usually after a series of efforts or against systematic resistance:to conquer a country, one's inclinations.Overcome emphasizes surmounting difficulties in prevailing over an antagonist:to overcome opposition, bad habits.Subdue means to conquer so completely that resistance is broken:to subdue a rebellious spirit. 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged foil, baffle, balk. 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged downfall.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ vb (transitive) to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory over to thwart or frustrate to render null and void; annul n the act of defeating or state of being defeatedEtymology: 14th Century: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des- dis-1 + faire to do, from Latin facere
'defeat' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Alexander I
- Arbela
- Ashes
- Atalanta
- Axis
- Bangladesh
- Bautzen
- Bennington
- Bloch
- Braddock
- Brandywine
- Brian Boru
- Buena Vista
- Bull Run
- Cerro Gordo
- Charles I
- Châlons
- Constantine I
- Corregidor
- Creek War
- Cumberland
- Czechoslovakia
- Dien Bien Phu
- Dunbar
- El Obeid
- Enniskillen
- Evesham
- afflict
- annihilate
- back
- backgammon
- balk
- bar
- bashing
- beat
- beating
- best
- better
- bite
- bitter end
- blitz
- blitzkrieg
- blood-red
- blow
- blow away
- brazen
- bushwhack
- calamitous
- cane
- caning
In Lists: Top 2000 English words, Bitter tastes, Athletics, more...Synonyms: loss, beating, whipping, thrashing, trouncing, more...Collocations: defeat the enemy, was [an important, a crushing, a devastating] defeat, defeated in [Vietnam, the war], more...
Forum discussions with the word(s) "defeat" in the title:...grasp to defeat her.
accept defeat with a contemptuous good grace
After a defeat playing board games: "I want the revenge."
although I was fresh off a resounding defeat
As defeat look set to.....
beat and defeat!
beat me, to defeat me
beat someone hollow (BrE), only defeat meaning?
beat/defeat
bill's defeat
bruising defeat
But Lu has not been as [gracious] in his own defeat
Can "defenestrate" mean "to defeat"?
Compete vs defeat
Day of defeat
Defeat
defeat – a word with opposite meanings?
defeat [somebody] in / at [something]
defeat a challenge
defeat fear
Defeat had brought them on its scaly wings...
defeat the object
defeat the purpose of
defeat the terms of the agreement
defeat the time release
defeat their fictions
defeat to vs defeat against
Defeat vs Beat [sports]
defeat vs. bring down
defeat XXX "on / in" penalties
more...Visit the English Only Forum.Help WordReference: Ask in the forums yourself.
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defeat noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
defeat noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
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Definition of defeat noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
defeat noun /dɪˈfiːt/ /dɪˈfiːt/Idioms
jump to other results
[uncountable, countable] failure to win or to be successfulThe party faces defeat in the election.They suffered a narrow defeat in the final.a heavy/humiliating/crushing defeatThe world champion has only had two defeats in 20 fights.They finally had to admit defeat (= stop trying to be successful).to concede/accept defeat defeat by somebody their defeat by the Brazilians defeat against somebody last week's defeat against Manchester Uniteda punishing defeat at the hands of Iceland in the World Cup in defeat He was gracious in defeat, acknowledging his opponent's greater skill.a series of small victories and defeatsExtra ExamplesA skilful politician can always reverse any defeats.The prime minister conceded defeat and resigned.The battle ended in a humiliating defeat.The team suffered defeat at the hands of their oldest rivals.Their party suffered a heavy defeat in the election.The team went down to their fifth consecutive defeat.They lost 4–3 in their second narrow defeat of the week.They turned a military defeat into a media victory.We just need to avoid defeat in our last two games.Topics Difficulty and failureb2, War and conflictb2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectivecompletecomprehensivedecisive…verb + defeatacceptadmitconcede…prepositiondefeat againstdefeat byphrasesdefeat at the hands of somebodyturn defeat into a victorySee full entry
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Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
[countable, usually singular] the act of winning a victory over somebody/somethingThe army inflicted a heavy defeat on rebel forces.the defeat of fascismExtra ExamplesThey played a key role in Wellington's defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo.He almost pulled off a shock defeat of the reigning champion.Topics Sports: other sportsb2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjectivecompletecomprehensivedecisive…verb + defeatacceptadmitconcede…prepositiondefeat againstdefeat byphrasesdefeat at the hands of somebodyturn defeat into a victorySee full entry
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘undo, destroy, annul’): from Old French desfait ‘undone’, past participle of desfaire, from medieval Latin disfacere ‘undo’.Idioms snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to win something even though it seemed up until the last moment that you would lose The idiom is often reversed for humorous effect to show that a person or team were expected to win, but then lost at the last moment, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. See defeat in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee defeat in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
defeat
Other results
All matches
defeat verb
the jaws of death, defeat, etc.
Idioms
the jaws of death, defeat, etc.
Nearby words
defaulter noun
defeat verb
defeat noun
defeated adjective
defeatism noun
boost
verb
From the Topic
Change, cause and effect
B2
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