beaten

American  

[beet-n] / ˈbit n /

adjective

1. formed or shaped by blows; hammered.

   a dish of beaten brass.

2. much trodden; commonly used.

   a beaten path.

3. defeated; vanquished; thwarted.

4. overcome by exhaustion; fatigued by hard work, intense activity, etc.

5. (of food) whipped up, pounded, pulverized, or the like.

   adding three beaten eggs.

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idioms

1. off the beaten track / path, novel; uncommon; out of the ordinary.

   a tiny shop that was off the beaten track.

beaten British  

/ ˈbiːtən /

adjective

1. defeated or baffled

2. shaped or made thin by hammering

   a bowl of beaten gold

3. much travelled; well trodden (esp in the phrase the beaten track )

4. 1. in or into unfamiliar territory

   2. out of the ordinary; unusual

5. (of food) mixed by beating; whipped

6. tired out; exhausted

7. hunting (of woods, undergrowth, etc) scoured so as to rouse game

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Other Word Forms

• underbeaten adjective
• well-beaten adjective

Etymology

Origin of beaten

before 1100; Middle English beten, Old English bēaten, past participle of bēatan to beat

Explanation

Something that's beaten has been made smooth or thin from repeated impact, like the beaten surface of a silver bracelet, or the beaten path that leads to your hideout in the woods. To make something beaten, you have to beat it — strike or hammer it repeatedly. Food can also be beaten, like the beaten egg whites you put in a cake to make it light and fluffy. In this case, they're stirred with vigor. And when a person is beaten, they're despondent or defeated: "The beaten expression on his face showed how exhausting the last tennis match had been." Beaten comes from beat and its root meaning "to strike."

Example Sentences

Captain Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool's season has been "unacceptable" after Arne Slot's side fell to an 18th defeat in all competitions when they were beaten by Manchester United.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

But Arsenal have since beaten Newcastle and Fulham - either side of their Champions League semi-final first-leg draw at Atletico Madrid.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

In many ways, the most important part of your letter is this sentence: “Thankfully, Hubbie’s cancer is being beaten back.”

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Citi Research analyst Geoff Meacham noted that Jardiance got a lift from $250 million in one-time benefits outside the U.S., “but nonetheless still would have beaten consensus otherwise.”

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

The admiral wiggled and kicked, which made him swing wildly, like a piñata in the midst of being beaten.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• humbled
• overpowered
• overwhelmed
• routed