Dictionary

defeat en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈfiːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈfiːt/ (Australia)
• /diˈfit/ (Canada, General-American)
• /dɪˈfit/ (Canada, General-American)
• [dɪˈfɪ̈it] (Australia)
• /dɪˈfiːt/ (New-Zealand)
• [dɪˈfɪit] (Australia)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To overcome in battle or contest.
   • The Japanese defeated the Ming general Tsu Chʻeng-hsün 祖承訓 at Pʻing jang 平壤 in 1592, the first year of Bunroku 文祿 of Japan, and the fighting continued for some years; but at Hideyoshi's death the Japanese troops left Korea. 1917, Samuel Couling, “Japanese Relations with China”, in The Encyclopaedia Sinica, Literature House, Ltd., published 1964, →OCLC, page 255, column 2:
   • Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.
   • My personal success or failure is insignificant; the rise or fall of the nation is my responsibility and must not be shirked. Upon introspection, I feel I am firmer than ever in confidence that the Communists will be defeated. These are feelings which will comfort Father's soul in Heaven. 1980 August 1 [1980 May 1], Ching-kuo Chiang, “President Chiang Ching-kuo continues his period of mourning and finds that visits to countryside and people give him renewed strength”, in Taiwan Today, archived from the original on 17 May 2020:
   • The 36-year-old defeats US Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a fiery 44-year-old Democrat from the Dallas area, in a contentious primary that became increasingly personal. 2026 March 4, Arlette Saenz, “James Talarico defeats Jasmine Crockett to win Democratic primary in Texas Senate race”, in CNN, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2026:
2. (transitive) To reduce, to nothing, the strength of.
   • In one instance he defeated his own purpose. 1879, Adolphus Ward, “Chaucer”, in English Men of Letters:
   • He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. 1664, John Tillotson, “Sermon I. The Wisdom of Being Religious. Job XXVIII. 28.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
3. (transitive) To nullify
   • The escheators […] defeated the right heir of his succession. 1827, Henry Hallam, The Constitutional History of England from the Accession of Henry VII. to the Death of George II. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], →OCLC:
4. To prevent (something) from being achieved.
   • The last active L.Y.R. 0-6-0ST (apart from works shunters), No. 51408, has been moved from Bolton to Agecroft for use in New Bailey Yard, Salford, where a sharp 1 in 27 curve is said to have defeated all attempts so far to employ diesel shunters; an ex-L.Y.R. 0-4-0ST also works here. 1962 January, “Motive Power Miscellany: London Midland Region: Central Lines”, in Modern Railways, page 60:

Forms

Antonyms

bite the dust · wave the white flag · forfeit · yield · surrender · eat someone's dust · give up · relinquish · lose · capitulate · strike one's flag

Deriveds

undefeatability · defeatingly · redefeat · self-defeating · defeat the purpose · defeatable · undefeatable

Hyponyms

get over · win over · rout · conquer · cream · overthrow · get past · get through · discomfit · crush · overrun · shutout · zilch

Relateds

defeasance · defeater · defeatist · defeature · defeasible · defeatism

Synonyms

subdue · spank · bring down · subvert · pwn · murdelize · vanquish · surmount · trounce · overcome · outrun · outfox · rape · own · beat · malavogue · overpower · outwit · flog · eat someone's lunch · outguess · steal the show · kick ass · thrash · eat someone for breakfast · pulverise · humble · overwin · reduce · chew up · convince · outsmart

Translations (193)

fi hakata (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi torpata (to nullify) · mi whakahinga (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi höyhentää (to overcome in battle or contest) · ja 倒す (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi kumota (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · es profligar (to overcome in battle or contest) · lv sakaut (to overcome in battle or contest) · de bezwingen (to overcome in battle or contest) · el νικώ (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru поража́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · ro bate (to overcome in battle or contest) · ba еңеү (to overcome in battle or contest) · rup azvingu (to overcome in battle or contest) · nl overwinnen (to overcome in battle or contest) · is sigra (to overcome in battle or contest) · el τσακίζω (to overcome in battle or contest) · sv övervinna (to overcome in battle or contest) · sq M'e' Rrah (to overcome in battle or contest) · km ឈ្នះ (to overcome in battle or contest) · ltg īveikt (to overcome in battle or contest) · he הֵבִיס (to overcome in battle or contest) · el συντρίβω (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · ro învinge (to overcome in battle or contest) · ms kalahkan (to overcome in battle or contest) · sa जयति (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru побежда́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · be перамага́ць (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi päihittää (to overcome in battle or contest) · bn হারানো (to overcome in battle or contest) · ne पराजित गर्नु (to overcome in battle or contest) · fr vaincre (to overcome in battle or contest) · eo venki (to overcome in battle or contest) · it battere (to overcome in battle or contest) · th เอาชนะ (to overcome in battle or contest) · ca vèncer (to overcome in battle or contest) · es derrotar (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi kiistää (to nullify) · oc vencir (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi voittaa (to overcome in battle or contest) · sk víťaziť (to overcome in battle or contest) · fa مغلوب کردن (to overcome in battle or contest) · cs porážet (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi estää (to nullify) · th ชนะ (to overcome in battle or contest) · ltg puorveikt (to overcome in battle or contest) · sh poráziti (to overcome in battle or contest) · rup anichisescu (to overcome in battle or contest) · ta தோற்கடி (to overcome in battle or contest) · be перамагчы́ (to overcome in battle or contest) · yue 贏 /赢 (to overcome in battle or contest) · ko 이기다 (to overcome in battle or contest) · cy gorchfygu (to overcome in battle or contest) · lt nugalėti (to overcome in battle or contest) · tg шикаст додан (to overcome in battle or contest) · eu garaitu (to overcome in battle or contest) · cy maeddu (to overcome in battle or contest) · da overvinde (to overcome in battle or contest) · de bewältigen (to overcome in battle or contest) · fr contrecarrer (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · rup frãngu (to overcome in battle or contest) · hu legyőz (to overcome in battle or contest) · txb yuk- (to overcome in battle or contest) · cmn 吊打 (to overcome in battle or contest) · mi taiari (to overcome in battle or contest) · sh пора́зити (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi piestä (to overcome in battle or contest) · id mengalahkan (to overcome in battle or contest) · cs vítězit (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi tyrmätä (to nullify) · pl pokonać (to overcome in battle or contest) · fur vinci (to overcome in battle or contest) · pt derrotar (to overcome in battle or contest) · lv uzveikt (to overcome in battle or contest) · af oorwin (to overcome in battle or contest) · gl derrotar (to overcome in battle or contest) · qu llalliy (to overcome in battle or contest) · tg мағлуб кардан (to overcome in battle or contest) · mn дийлэх (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi rökittää (to overcome in battle or contest) · ko 패배시키다 (to overcome in battle or contest) · kw tryghi (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi mitätöidä (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · bg победя́ (to overcome in battle or contest) · yue 打敗 /打败 (to overcome in battle or contest) · sk porážať (to overcome in battle or contest) · ca batre (to overcome in battle or contest) · cs porazit (to overcome in battle or contest) · es vencer (to overcome in battle or contest) · es derribar (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · nb beseire (to overcome in battle or contest) · fr réduire à néant (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · sk poraziť (to overcome in battle or contest) · lt įveikti (to overcome in battle or contest) · mk порази (to overcome in battle or contest) · de niederringen (to overcome in battle or contest) · ca derrotar (to overcome in battle or contest) · it sconfiggere (to overcome in battle or contest) · fr anéantir (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · cs udělat neplatným (to nullify) · ja 負かす (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru разби́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · ga buaigh ar (to overcome in battle or contest) · mk победи (to overcome in battle or contest) · el ματαιώνω (to nullify) · pl pokonywać (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru победи́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi nollata (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · sl poraziti (to overcome in battle or contest) · uk поража́ти (to overcome in battle or contest) · is vinna (to overcome in battle or contest) · gl vencer (to overcome in battle or contest) · sv besegra (to overcome in battle or contest) · uk порази́ти (to overcome in battle or contest) · sk zvíťaziť (to overcome in battle or contest) · fr défaire (to overcome in battle or contest) · et võitma (to overcome in battle or contest) · bg поразя́ (to overcome in battle or contest) · cy curo (to overcome in battle or contest) · de besiegen (to overcome in battle or contest) · hy հաղթել (to overcome in battle or contest) · ka დამარცხება (to overcome in battle or contest) · lv uzvarēt (to overcome in battle or contest) · de zunichtemachen (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · uk перемага́ти (to overcome in battle or contest) · ja やっつける (to overcome in battle or contest) · tg шикаст расондан (to overcome in battle or contest) · nl verslaan (to overcome in battle or contest) · ga faigh an lámh in uachtar ar (to overcome in battle or contest) · cmn 打敗 /打败 (to overcome in battle or contest) · la vincō (to overcome in battle or contest) · swb ushindra (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi löylyttää (to overcome in battle or contest) · mi taieri (to overcome in battle or contest) · arz غلب (to overcome in battle or contest) · ar غَلَبَ (to overcome in battle or contest) · af verslaan (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi ehkäistä (to nullify) · gl bater (to overcome in battle or contest) · de schlagen (to overcome in battle or contest) · fa شکست دادن (to overcome in battle or contest) · es debelar (to overcome in battle or contest) · pt vencer (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi tehdä tyhjäksi (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · tr mağlup etmek (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru разбива́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · hi हराना (to overcome in battle or contest) · ar هَزَمَ (to overcome in battle or contest) · da besejre (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi poistaa (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · es despachurrar (to overcome in battle or contest) · az yenmək (to overcome in battle or contest) · bg побежда́вам (to overcome in battle or contest) · grc νικάω (to overcome in battle or contest) · hy պարտության մատնել (to overcome in battle or contest) · hi जीतना (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi kaataa (to overcome in battle or contest) · be паража́ць (to overcome in battle or contest) · ga cloígh (to overcome in battle or contest) · hu megsemmisít (to nullify) · cs zvítězit (to overcome in battle or contest) · ro înfrânge (to overcome in battle or contest) · sq Mund (to overcome in battle or contest) · io vinkar (to overcome in battle or contest) · ru порази́ть (to overcome in battle or contest) · mn ялах (to overcome in battle or contest) · ast vencer (to overcome in battle or contest) · cs anulovat (to nullify) · fi kumota (to nullify) · fi mitätöidä (to nullify) · it vincere (to overcome in battle or contest) · th ปราบ (to overcome in battle or contest) · vi đánh bại (to overcome in battle or contest) · sa सहते (to overcome in battle or contest) · fi kukistaa (to overcome in battle or contest) · mk поразува (to overcome in battle or contest) · nb overvinne (to overcome in battle or contest) · be паразі́ць (to overcome in battle or contest) · rup bat (roa-rup) (to overcome in battle or contest) · es derrotar (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · cmn 贏 /赢 (to overcome in battle or contest) · uk перемогти́ (to overcome in battle or contest) · cy trechu (to overcome in battle or contest) · ur شکست دینا (to overcome in battle or contest) · lt sukauti (to overcome in battle or contest) · ne हराउनु (to overcome in battle or contest) · es causear (to overcome in battle or contest) · te ఓడించు (to overcome in battle or contest) · bg поразя́вам (to overcome in battle or contest) · el καταρρέω (to reduce, to nothing, the strength of) · mk победува (to overcome in battle or contest) · tr yenmek (to overcome in battle or contest) · es despanchurrar (to overcome in battle or contest)

defeat en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈfiːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dɪˈfiːt/ (Australia)
• /diˈfit/ (Canada, General-American)
• /dɪˈfit/ (Canada, General-American)
• [dɪˈfɪ̈it] (Australia)
• /dɪˈfiːt/ (New-Zealand)
• [dɪˈfɪit] (Australia)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English defet, from French deffet, desfait, past participle of the verb desfaire (compare modern French défaire), from des- + faire.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) The act or instance of being defeated, of being overcome or vanquished; a loss.
   • Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move.
   • Two defeats in five games coming into this contest, and a draw with Everton, ultimately cost Sir Alex Ferguson's side in what became the most extraordinary finale to the league championship since Arsenal beat Liverpool at Anfield in 1989. 2012 May 13, Alistair Magowan, “Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd”, in BBC Sport:
2. (countable, uncountable) The act or instance of defeating, of overcoming, vanquishing.
   • The inscription records her defeat of the country's enemies in a costly war.
3. (countable, uncountable) Frustration (by prevention of success), stymieing; (law) nullification.
   • ... is subsequently issued to him, in accordance with his perfect equity thus acquired, by a legal fiction which the law creates for the protection, but not for the defeat, of his title. 1909, The Southern Reporter, page 250:
   • She could see no justice in being forced into a position that promised to end in further humiliation and defeat of her hopes. 2008, Gene Porter, A Daughter of the Land, volume 1, →ISBN, page 17:
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Destruction, ruin.
   • and made defeat of her virginity 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

Forms

Antonyms

victory

Deriveds

defeatocrat · defeatican · social defeat · snatch defeat from the jaws of victory · snatch victory from the jaws of defeat · admit defeat · defeatless

Translations (117)

kmr mexlûbiyet (the act of being defeated, of losing) · id kekalahan (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hi हार (the act of being defeated, of losing) · de Niederlage (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ar هَزِيمَة (the act of being defeated, of losing) · es derrota (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · ko 짐 (the act of being defeated, of losing) · bg пораже́ние (the act of being defeated, of losing) · bn হারানো (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · lb Néierlag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ca desfeta (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ta தோற்கடிக்கப்படுதல் (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fo ósigur (the act of being defeated, of losing) · gl desfeita (the act of being defeated, of losing) · uk пора́зка (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sq M'u Rrah (the act of being defeated, of losing) · mn ялагдал (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fa-ira باخْت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · tk ýeňliş (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hi जीतना (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · tg бохт (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fi häviö (the act of being defeated, of losing) · mg faharesena (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hi हराना (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · ta தோல்வியடைதல் (the act of being defeated, of losing) · lv sakāve (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fa-ira شِکَسْت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ar مَغْلُوبِيَّة (the act of being defeated, of losing) · af nederlaag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · kk жеңіліс (the act of being defeated, of losing) · he תְּבוּסָה (the act of being defeated, of losing) · et kaotus (the act of being defeated, of losing) · my အရှုံး (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ug مەغلۇبىيەت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · rup frãndzeare (the act of being defeated, of losing) · grc ἧσσα (the act of being defeated, of losing) · mk пораз (the act of being defeated, of losing) · gl derrota (the act of being defeated, of losing) · bn পরাজয় (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fi voitto (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · tt җиңелү (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ms kekalahan (the act of being defeated, of losing) · prs شِکَسْت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · cs vítězství (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · ps مغلوبيت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ka დამარცხება (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sv nederlag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · lo ປະຣາໄຊ (the act of being defeated, of losing) · uz magʻlubiyat (the act of being defeated, of losing) · th ความปราชัย (the act of being defeated, of losing) · da nederlag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · th การปราชัย (the act of being defeated, of losing) · lt pralaimėjimas (the act of being defeated, of losing) · tr yenilgi (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sh pȍrāz (the act of being defeated, of losing) · cmn 敗北 /败北 (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ro înfrângere (the act of being defeated, of losing) · eu porrot (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sk porážka (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hi शिकस्त (the act of being defeated, of losing) · th ปราชัย (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sa पराजय (the act of being defeated, of losing) · es derrota (the act of being defeated, of losing) · tr hezimet (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ca venciment (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · kmr şikist (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ko 패배 (the act of being defeated, of losing) · nb nederlag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · et lüüasaamine (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ur ہار (the act of being defeated, of losing) · lo ປະລາໄຊ (the act of being defeated, of losing) · prs بَاخْت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · be паражэ́нне (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hi पराजय (the act of being defeated, of losing) · cmn 敗仗 /败仗 (the act of being defeated, of losing) · la stragēs (the act of being defeated, of losing) · vi sự thất bại (the act of being defeated, of losing) · it disfatta (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ja 敗北 (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hu vereség (the act of being defeated, of losing) · lb Nidderlag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ky жеңилиш (the act of being defeated, of losing) · km ការចាញ់ (the act of being defeated, of losing) · pt derrota (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sl poraz (the act of being defeated, of losing) · tr mağlubiyet (the act of being defeated, of losing) · es vencimiento (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · eo malvenko (the act of being defeated, of losing) · el ήττα (the act of being defeated, of losing) · sh по̏ра̄з (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ta இழப்பு (the act of being defeated, of losing) · cs porážka (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ta தோல்வி (the act of being defeated, of losing) · uk про́граш (the act of being defeated, of losing) · mi whakahinganga (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · sq Humbje (the act of being defeated, of losing) · br koll (the act of being defeated, of losing) · tg шикаст (the act of being defeated, of losing) · pl porażka (the act of being defeated, of losing) · es vencimiento (the act of being defeated, of losing) · mi whakahinganga (the act of being defeated, of losing) · bn হারা (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ca derrota (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ru пораже́ние (the act of being defeated, of losing) · is ósigur (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ur شِکَسْت (the act of being defeated, of losing) · az məğlubiyyət (the act of being defeated, of losing) · hy պարտություն (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fi tappio (the act of being defeated, of losing) · fr défaite (the act of being defeated, of losing) · oc desfacha (the act of being defeated, of losing) · it sconfitta (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ja 負け (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ta தோற்கடிப்பு (the act of defeating, of overcoming or winning against) · nl nederlaag (the act of being defeated, of losing) · uz shikast (the act of being defeated, of losing) · ps شکست (the act of being defeated, of losing)