defeat
//dɪˈfiːt//
Forms
- present (v1)
- defeat
- past (v2)
- defeated
- past participle (v3)
- defeated
- present participle
- defeating
- 3rd person singular
- defeats
- Plural
- defeats
Definitions
1.To overcome in battle or contest.
- The 36-year-old defeats US Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a fiery 44-year-old Democrat from the Dallas area, in a contentious primary that became increasingly personal.
- Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
2.To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
- In one instance he defeated his own purpose.
- He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes.
3.To nullify
- The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession.
4.To prevent (something) from being achieved.
1.Frustration (by prevention of success), stymieing; (law) nullification.
- She could see no justice in being forced into a position that promised to end in further humiliation and defeat of her hopes.
2.The act or instance of being defeated, of being overcome or vanquished; a loss.
- Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move.
3.The act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.
- The inscription records her defeat of the country's enemies in a costly war.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3211
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English defeten
From Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.