defeat
/dɪˈfit/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: 4.51 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo."
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
- "He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes."
- "In one instance he defeated his own purpose."
Etymology
From Middle English defeten, from Middle English defet (“disfigured”, past participle) and defet (“defect”, noun), see Etymology 2 below.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: defeten, defet, deffet
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈfit/
- British English: /dɪˈfiːt/
Usage
Inflected Forms
defeats (present, singular)
defeating (participle, present)
defeated (participle, past)
defeated (past)
no-table-tags (table tags)
glossary (inflection template)
defeated (first person, past)
defeatest (archaic, present)
defeated (past, second person)
defeatedst (archaic, past)
defeateth (archaic, present)
defeated (past, singular)