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.
The two candidates beat out a crowded field of 17 candidates for the runoff slots.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
On Sunday, Brady Tkachuk won an Olympic gold medal in Milan when the U.S. beat out Canada in the men’s hockey final.
From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026
Swift beat out Korean group Stray Kids, which came in second -- its highest-ever ranking and the third consecutive year in the global top five.
From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026
As dispassionate buyers who paid cash and didn’t quibble over ugly paint or dingy carpet, they beat out regular buyers without having to outbid them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026
“No choice,” his heart beat out to him as he went down the stairs, “no choice, no choice, no choice. ”
From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo
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.
