beat out
Idioms-
Knock into shape by beating, as in She managed to beat out all the dents in the fender . [c. 1600]
-
Surpass or defeat someone; be chosen over someone. For example, He got to the head of the line, beating out all the others . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1700s] Also see beat the pants off .
-
beat out of . Cheat someone of something, as in He was always trying to beat the conductor out of the full train fare . [ Slang ; second half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Feliciano, a co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, beat out a group of bidders that included Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and businessman Dan Friedkin.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
In addition to fostering greater self-reliance, China is looking to beat out other nations in the race to develop and commercialize the nascent technology.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
“Surprising only comes from a group of writers huddled in a corner beating themselves up to beat out a better show,” he says.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026
For Norway, fully electric vehicles have almost totally beat out petroleum cars in the auto market, helping to make it the only nation whose growth will not slow down this year, as Oxford Economics projects.
From Slate • Mar. 12, 2026
Even in this heat, I was pretty sure I could beat out a bunt and make it home.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
