noun
-
a whipping or thrashing, as in punishment
-
a defeat or setback
-
to be difficult to improve upon
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of beating
First recorded in 1200–50; from Middle English betynge; see beat, -ing 1
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.
See Examples For:
Fastenal reported higher third-quarter profit of $401.6 million and sales of $2.46 billion, beating analyst expectations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Advance estimates showed the economy grew 5.4% on year, beating consensus forecast of 5.1% growth, Commerzbank Research analysts note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
As for the FA Cup, City won it just once in the period they were scrutinised over, beating Stoke in 2010-11.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
UnitedHealth had revenue of $112.7 billion, down from $113.2 billion in the same quarter a year ago and beating the FactSet consensus of $111.3 billion.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
“What’ll it be?” she asked, not beating around the bush.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
It would be unfair not to credit Benn's in-ring evolution, going from a raw novice who used to take beatings in sparring to becoming one of British boxing's most recognisable fighters.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Later it took further beatings as they worked out how the 8,000-pound horse could be dragged over dunes and log rollers by actors with ropes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
“People don’t have the bandwidth to respond with the kind of outrage that they would when you saw the beatings at Pan Pacific Park,” said Abdullah, referring to the LAPD’s response to protests in 2020.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2025
As one British study titled "Banter, bollockings and beatings" made clear, an often macho culture can prevail, including bizarre induction rituals.
From Salon ● Mar. 11, 2024
She was ably defended by George Bizos, who attempted to demonstrate that Winnie had no involvement with either the kidnappings or the beatings.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
