beat out
Idioms-
Knock into shape by beating, as in She managed to beat out all the dents in the fender . [c. 1600]
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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 .
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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.
In 2022, U.S. private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, co-founded by now-Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, beat out Chinese companies to take control of a commercial shipyard in Subic Bay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The blue shirt became the second most expensive jersey sold at auction after an anonymous buyer beat out four other bidders at Sotheby's in New York.
From Barron's ● Jul. 16, 2026
Tatis Jr. beat out a throw from Rojas to Freddie Freeman, driving in one run.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
The two beat out thousands of others to score this promotional gig from the job site Indeed and the US broadcaster Fox Sports.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
Who was this young student with no experience, who’d beat out all the other entrants?
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
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.
