beat

The regular pattern of sounds that gives music its timing.

• This song has a strong beat.
• Tap your foot to the beat.
• The drummer kept a steady beat throughout the song.

Similar words: rhythm

Common phrases: steady beat, drum beat, keep the beat, dance to beat

One movement of the heart as it pushes blood around the body.

• I could feel each beat of my heart.
• The doctor counted sixty beats per minute.
• Her heart missed a beat when the phone rang.

Similar words: heartbeat, pulse

Common phrases: heart beat, miss a beat, regular beat

An area or route that a police officer or guard regularly checks.

• The officer walked his beat.
• Two guards share the same beat.
• She knows every shop on her beat.

Similar words: patrol route

Common phrases: walk the beat, on the beat, regular beat

To win a game, competition, or fight against someone.

• We beat their team.
• She beat me at chess yesterday.
• Can you beat your brother in a race?

How to use it: beat someone at something (He beat me at tennis.); beat someone in something (Our team beat them in the final.)

Similar words: defeat

Opposites: lose to

Common phrases: beat a team, beat someone at, beat the champion, beat a rival

To hit someone or something, often several times.

• He beat the drum loudly.
• The attackers beat him with sticks.
• She beat on the door until someone opened it.

How to use it: beat someone/something with something (He beat the drum with two sticks.); beat on something (They beat on the locked door.)

Similar words: hit, strike, pound

Common phrases: beat a drum, beat someone up, beat with something, beat the wall

Extremely tired, especially after working hard or exercising.

• I am beat.
• We felt completely beat after the hike.
• You look beat; get some sleep.

Similar words: exhausted, worn out

Opposites: rested

Common phrases: feel beat, completely beat, pretty beat

Old and damaged from being used a lot.

• That car is pretty beat.
• He arrived in a beat old truck.
• The furniture looked beat after years of use.

Similar words: battered, worn out, run-down

Common phrases: beat car, beat furniture, pretty beat