defeat

[dih-feet]

verb (used with object)

1. to overcome in a contest, election, battle, etc.; prevail over; vanquish.

   They defeated the enemy.

   She defeated her brother at tennis.

   Synonyms: subdue, rout, overthrow, overwhelm

2. to frustrate; thwart.

   Synonyms: balk, baffle, foil

3. to eliminate or deprive of something expected.

   The early returns defeated his hopes of election.

4. Law.,  to annul.

noun

1. the act of overcoming in a contest.

   an overwhelming defeat of all opposition.

2. an instance of defeat; setback.

   He considered his defeat a personal affront.

3. an overthrow or overturning; vanquishment.

   the defeat of a government.

   Synonyms: downfall

4. a bringing to naught; frustration.

   the defeat of all his hopes and dreams.

5. the act or event of being bested; a beating.

   Defeat is not something she abides easily.

6. Archaic.,  undoing; destruction; ruin.

defeat

/ dɪˈfiːt /

verb

1. to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory over

2. to thwart or frustrate

   this accident has defeated all his hopes of winning

3. law to render null and void; annul

noun

1. the act of defeating or state of being defeated

2. an instance of defeat

3. overthrow or destruction

4. law an annulment

Other Word Forms

• defeater noun
• nondefeat noun
• predefeat noun
• redefeat verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of defeat¹

First 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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of defeat¹

C14: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des- _dis- ¹ + faire to do, from Latin facere

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Two years later, at Euro 2024 in Germany, he started every game for a buoyant Netherlands side but was taken off injured during the first half of an agonising semi-final defeat by England.

Read more on BBC

Wales take on Thomas Tuchel's side off the back of a disappointing friendly defeat by Canada in September, yet still have a good chance of qualifying for next summer's World Cup in North America.

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Tuchel, 52, took charge of England in January and has won five of his six games, with his sole defeat coming in a friendly against Senegal.

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They now have three defeats from three at this World Cup while Australia go top of the standings with a second win to go with a washout.

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The defeated agents run like they’re wearing concrete boots with skates on them as their quarry makes his escape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beating 
• blow 
• breakdown 
• collapse 
• debacle 
• destruction 
• drubbing 
• embarrassment 
• failure 
• killing 
• loss 
• massacre 
• rout 
• setback 
• thrashing 
• triumph 

When To Use

What does defeat mean?

To defeat someone is to beat them in a competition or contest.As a noun, a defeat is a loss (as in That was the team’s first defeat of the season) and defeat is the state of having lost (as in the agony of defeat).In most cases, the verb beat is a close synonym for defeat, but defeat is more formal (you can beat or defeat someone in a game, but a nation defeats another in war).As a verb, defeat can also mean to thwart or prevent something from happening, but this is less commonly used.Example: The Allies defeated the Axis powers in World War II.