What is beat? Pronunciation and usage in English

beat means . Learn how to pronounce and use beat through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of beat

beatverb

/biːt/
Definition & pronunciation of beat

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "beat" in English! There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends on whether you're talking about a rhythmic beat or the verb "to beat."

1. As a Rhythmic Beat (noun - like in music):

  • Pronunciation: /biːt/ (Listen here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/audio/pronunciation/beat1)
  • Breakdown:
    • "bi" - Sounds like the "bi" in "bit" (short 'i' sound)
    • "ee" - Sounds like the "ee" in "see" (long 'e' sound)
    • "t" - A simple "t" sound.
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("bi").

2. As the Verb "To Beat" (action - to hit something):

  • Pronunciation: /biːt/ (same as the rhythmic beat!)
  • Breakdown: (Same as above)
    • "bi" - Sounds like the "bi" in "bit"
    • "ee" - Sounds like the "ee" in "see"
    • "t" - A simple "t" sound.
  • Emphasis: Again, the emphasis is on the first syllable ("bi").

Key takeaway: Both pronunciations are identical! The context will tell you whether you mean a rhythmic beat or the action of beating.

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

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  • Give you some example sentences using "beat" in both contexts?
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Usage and examples with the word beat in English

Let's break down how to use the word "beat" in English. It's a remarkably versatile word with many different meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. As a Verb (Action – To Hit/Strike)

  • Basic Meaning: To strike someone or something with force.
    • "He beat his brother with a stick." (Physical violence)
    • "The drummer beat the drum loudly." (Musical action)
    • "The soldiers beat back the enemy." (Military action)
  • Figurative Meaning (To Overcome/Defeat): To overcome a challenge, difficulty, or opponent.
    • "She beat her personal best in the race." (Achieved a better result)
    • "The team beat their rivals in the final game." (Won the game)
    • "I need to beat my procrastination and get this done." (Overcome a bad habit)

2. As a Verb (Rhythm/Pulse)

  • Heartbeat: “He felt his beat quicken with excitement.”
  • Rhythm: “The music had a steady beat.” (Referring to the pulse of a rhythm)
  • Tempo: “The band slowed the beat down.” (Increasing or decreasing the pace of music)

3. As a Noun (Rhythm/Pulse)

  • Heartbeat: "I felt a strong beat in my chest."
  • Rhythm: "The beat of the drums was hypnotic." (A rhythmic pattern)
  • Police Beat: "The officer patrolled his beat." (A designated area a police officer covers)
  • News Beat: "She’s a journalist specializing in the political beat.” (A specific topic a journalist covers)
  • Beat (in music): “That track has a really strong beat.” (Referring to the rhythmic foundation of a song)

4. As a Noun (A Section of a Piece)

  • Musical Beat: "Each beat represents one measure in the song." (Especially in music theory)
  • Beat (in writing): “The author used short beats to heighten the tension.” (Short segments of text, often to create a specific effect)

5. As an Adjective (Relating to a Rhythm)

  • Beat-boxing: “He’s an amazing beat-boxing artist.” (Creating rhythms with the mouth)
  • Beat-up: "The car was really beat-up after the accident." (Worn out, damaged)

Here's a table summarizing the different meanings:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Verb To hit/strike "He beat the ball with a bat."
Verb To overcome/defeat "She beat her opponent in the match."
Noun Heartbeat "I felt my heart beat faster."
Noun Rhythm/Pulse "The drummer kept a steady beat."
Noun Police district "He worked on the downtown beat."
Noun Musical section "That song has a driving beat."
Adjective Worn/Damaged "The backpack was really beat."

Resources for Further Learning:

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  • In what context are you trying to use the word "beat"? (e.g., "I'm writing a story," "I'm talking about music," "I'm just trying to understand everyday language.")

Synonyms for the word beat

Idioms of the word beat

beat about the bush
to talk about something for a long time without coming to the main point
  • Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
beat somebody at their own game
to defeat or do better than somebody in an activity which they have chosen or in which they think they are strong
    beat your brains out
    (especially North American English, informal)to think very hard about something for a long time
    • I’ve been beating my brains out all weekend to get this script written.
    beat your breast
    to show that you feel sorry about something that you have done, especially in public and in an exaggerated way
      beat the clock
      to finish a task, race, etc. before a particular time
      • The player beat the clock and set a new record.
      beat/knock the (living) daylights out of somebody
      (informal)to hit somebody very hard several times and hurt them very much
      • Get out or I’ll beat the living daylights out of you!
      beat a dead horse
      (informal)to waste your effort by trying to do something that is no longer possible
        beat/bang the drum (for somebody/something)
        (especially British English)to speak with enthusiasm in support of somebody/something
        • She’s really banging the drum for the new system.
        beat/kick (the) hell out of somebody/something | knock hell out of somebody/something
        (informal)to hit somebody/something very hard
        • He was a dirty player and loved to kick hell out of the opposition.
        beat it
        (slang)to go away immediately
        • This is private land, so beat it!
        beat a path to somebody’s door
        if a lot of people beat a path to somebody’s door, they are all interested in something that person has to sell, or can do or tell them
        • Top theatrical agents are beating a path to the teenager's door.
        beat the rap
        (North American English, slang)to escape without being punished
          beat a (hasty) retreat
          to go away or back quickly, especially to avoid something unpleasant
          • I decided to beat a hasty retreat.
          beat time (to something)
          to mark or follow the rhythm of music, by waving a stick, tapping your foot (= hitting it against the floor), etc.
          • She beat time with her fingers.
          beat somebody to the punch
          (informal)to get or do something before somebody else can
            (beat somebody) black and blue
            (to hit somebody until they are) covered with bruises (= blue, brown or purple marks on the body)
              can you beat that/it!
              (informal)used to express surprise or anger
                if you can’t beat them, join them
                (saying)if you cannot defeat somebody or be as successful as they are, then it is more sensible to join them in what they are doing and perhaps get some advantage for yourself by doing so
                  off the beaten track
                  far away from other people, houses, etc.
                  • They live miles off the beaten track.
                  a rod/stick to beat somebody with
                  a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish somebody
                    take some beating
                    to be difficult to beat
                    • That score is going to take some beating.
                    • For sheer luxury, this hotel takes some beating.

                    Practice with vocabulary beat

                    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

                    1. Despite their best efforts, the team couldn’t ______ the reigning champions.
                    2. The heart monitor showed her pulse starting to ______ faster during the exercise.
                    3. The company managed to ______ its competitors by launching a more affordable product.
                    4. The waves continued to ______ against the shore, creating a soothing rhythm.

                    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

                    1. Which word best fits in the sentence: "The drummer practiced hard to ______ the rhythm perfectly."
                      a) beat
                      b) tap
                      c) hit
                      d) strike
                    2. What does the phrase "beat the odds" mean?
                      a) To defy expectations
                      b) To give up easily
                      c) To avoid a challenge
                      d) To repeat a mistake
                    3. Choose the correct word(s) for the sentence: "She tried to ______ the clock to finish her project on time."
                      a) race
                      b) beat
                      c) ignore
                      d) delay
                    4. Which word is incorrect in this context? "The storm caused waves to ______ the lighthouse violently."
                      a) crash
                      b) strike
                      c) beat
                      d) mend
                    5. What is the synonym of "beat" in this sentence? "The boxer managed to defeat his opponent in the final round."
                      a) overcome
                      b) ignore
                      c) challenge
                      d) avoid

                    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

                    1. Original: The team won the match after a tough competition.
                      Rewrite: The team managed to beat their opponents after a tough competition.
                    2. Original: The rain hit the windows so loudly that we couldn’t sleep.
                      Rewrite: The rain beat against the windows so loudly that we couldn’t sleep.
                    3. Original: He practiced every day to surpass his rival in the race.
                      Rewrite: He practiced every day to outpace his rival in the race.

                    Answers:

                    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

                    1. beat
                    2. beat
                    3. outshine
                    4. crash

                    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

                    1. a) beat
                    2. a) To defy expectations
                    3. a) race, b) beat
                    4. d) mend
                    5. a) overcome

                    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

                    1. The team managed to beat their opponents after a tough competition.
                    2. The rain beat against the windows so loudly that we couldn’t sleep.
                    3. He practiced every day to outpace his rival in the race.

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