defeat

Everyday

1. To defeat means to win against someone in a game, fight, war or vote: "we defeated the visiting team". tree →
2. (noun) A defeat is a loss, the failure to win: "a 3–0 defeat". tree →
3. To defeat something can mean to stop it from working or succeeding: "defeating the purpose". tree →
4. To be defeated by a problem means to fail to solve it: "the last question defeated me". tree →
5. To admit defeat means to give up. tree →

In the lessons

In sport reports and history, defeat tells who lost a match or battle. In maths, a team's record counts wins, draws and defeats (losses); points tables use them. In stories, the hero finally defeats the villain. Phrases: suffer a defeat, admit defeat, a crushing defeat, defeat the purpose, a narrow defeat.

Examples

• Our team defeated the champions 2–1. tree →
• It was their first defeat of the season. tree →
• The knight defeated the dragon. tree →
• Won 8, drawn 2, defeats 3: the team played 13 games. tree →
• The last puzzle defeated everyone in the class. tree →
• I couldn't open the jar, so I admitted defeat. tree →
• Leaving the fridge open defeats the purpose of having one. tree →
• He made war with all his neighbours, and defeated them. tree →

Note

Past: defeated. The opposite of a defeat is a victory or a win. "Defeat" (beat) takes an object: "We defeated them", not "We defeated". Adjective "defeated" also means sad and beaten in spirit.

In Jewish tradition

In sport reports and history, defeat tells who lost a match or battle. In maths, a team's record counts wins, draws and defeats (losses); points tables use them. In stories, the hero finally defeats the villain. Phrases: suffer a defeat, admit defeat, a crushing defeat, defeat the purpose, a narrow defeat.

Note

Past: defeated. The opposite of a defeat is a victory or a win. "Defeat" (beat) takes an object: "We defeated them", not "We defeated". Adjective "defeated" also means sad and beaten in spirit.