English Meaning & Definitions
To win against someone in a battle, game, or contest; to overcome.
- “Our team managed to defeat the reigning champions in the final minutes.”
- “The hero uses cunning and bravery to defeat the dragon.”
An instance of losing a game, battle, or contest, or the state of having been beaten.
- “The unexpected defeat left the players devastated.”
- “They accepted their defeat with dignity and congratulated the winners.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “defeat”.
Derived from the Middle English word 'defeten', borrowed from Old French 'defait', past participle of 'defaire' (to undo, destroy), from Vulgar Latin *disfacere, formed from the Latin prefix dis- (expressing reversal) + facere (to do, make).
To DEFEAT an enemy, you must DE-FEET them, making them unable to run away.
Frequently Asked Questions About “defeat”
1. What is the meaning of “defeat” in English?
In English, defeat (verb) is defined as: “To win against someone in a battle, game, or contest; to overcome.”.
2. How do you use “defeat” in a sentence?
“Our team managed to defeat the reigning champions in the final minutes.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “defeat”?
Derived from the Middle English word 'defeten', borrowed from Old French 'defait', past participle of 'defaire' (to undo, destroy), from Vulgar Latin *disfacere, formed from the Latin prefix dis- (expressing reversal) + facere (to do, make).
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.