defeat

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /dɪ'fiːt/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form defeat

Third-person singular defeats

Past tense defeated

Past participle defeated

Present participle defeating

1. (transitive) If you defeat someone, you win against them in a game, battle, or contest.
   • Synonym: beat
   • Antonym: lose

   South Africa defeated Zimbabwe (170) by four wickets with four balls to spare.

   American forces defeated a small band of fighters in a three-hour street battle last night.

   When I was in school, I was good at English, but science always defeated me.

Related words

• defeater
• defeatism
• defeatist

Noun

Singular defeat

Plural defeats

1. (countable & uncountable) A defeat is a loss in a game, battle, or contest.

   Dole went down in defeat in last night's elections.