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.
Smucker had beat out other suitors for Hostess, most notably General Mills.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 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
Both films beat out more traditional major releases like “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which came in third with $25 million in its second week.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 1, 2026
The book beat out a story about a suburban witch by French novelist and playwright Marie NDiaye as well as Brazilian Ana Paula Maia's dystopian read about a brutal prison colony.
From Barron's ● May 19, 2026
The large man finally beat out the flames and the two of them began to make their slow way down the alley.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
