beating

[bee-ting]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that beats, as to punish, clean, mix, etc..

   Give the rug a good beating.

2. a defeat or reverse; loss; setback

   Several stocks took a beating in the market today.

3. pulsation; throbbing.

   the beating of her heart.

beating

/ ˈbiːtɪŋ /

noun

1. a whipping or thrashing, as in punishment

2. a defeat or setback

3. to be difficult to improve upon

Word History and Origins

Origin of beating¹

First recorded in 1200–50; from Middle English betynge; beat, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

He will be eyeing beating Norris into the first corner, knowing that, with overtaking so difficult, it might be his only hope of retaining his title chances.

Read more on BBC

The Chicago Bears ran roughshod over the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, beating the reigning Super Bowl champions 24-15 to push their NFL winning streak to five games.

Read more on Barron's

Fred dreams of beating his annual sales goal and earning a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., a place he reveres “the way others may have felt about Canterbury or Jerusalem or Mecca.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On Wednesday, Workday, down 8.7%, was the worst performer in the S&P 500 despite beating earnings expectations.

Read more on Barron's

On Wednesday, Workday, down 8.7%, was the worst performer in the S&P 500 despite beating earnings expectations.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• defeat 
• drubbing 
• slaughter 
• whipping