Beat: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe hitting something repeatedly, often to a rhythm or pattern, and can pertain to both physical and abstract contexts.

• He beat the drum with a consistent rhythm
• She beat her previous high score in the game

Means to hit something or someone deliberately with force, often in a planned or impactful manner. It can also be used in the context of thoughts or inspirations suddenly occurring.

• The clock struck midnight
• The workers decided to strike for better conditions

A general term for striking something or someone, often implying a single action. It can be used in both physical and metaphorical senses.

• He hit the ball out of the park
• The band’s new single hit the top of the charts

Conveys hitting something hard and repeatedly, often with a lot of force. It can be associated with both physical and emotional intensity.

• He pounded the table with his fist in frustration
• The waves pounded against the shore

Implies hitting something repeatedly and violently, often with an intention to cause damage. This word usually has a negative connotation.

• The storm battered the coastline for hours
• The boxer battered his opponent in the ring

Describes hitting something heavily, often producing a dull sound. It is often used to imply a sudden, forceful impact.

• He thumped on the door with his fist
• The heavy book thumped onto the table

Used as a verb, 'beat' can indicate defeating someone in a competition or hitting something repeatedly.

• They managed to beat the reigning champions.
• He beat the drum energetically.

Indicates a regular repeated pattern of sounds or movements. It is commonly used in music and dance but can also describe any regular sequence.

• She has a great sense of rhythm.
• The song's rhythm made it easy to dance to.

Describes a regular beating, often used in a medical or biological context to refer to the heartbeat. It can also describe the regular rhythmic throbbing in music.

• The doctor checked her pulse.
• The music had a strong pulse that made everyone want to dance.

Refers to the speed at which a piece of music is played or the rate of some activity. It is largely used in musical contexts.

• The conductor asked the orchestra to increase the tempo.
• The fast tempo of the song was exhilarating.

Refers to the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words. It is often used in relation to speech, poetry, or music.

• The cadence of her voice was soothing.
• The poem had a beautiful cadence.