defeat
(verb, noun)
past tense: defeated
LISTEN
"My team was defeated!"
Defeat means ‘to overcome in a contest’ or ‘to beat.’
- It was a close election, but our candidate defeated her opponent.
- In the US Civil War, The North defeated The South.
A defeat is the act of being overcome in a contest.
- Her son's basketball team did not accept the defeat well.
- After his defeat in the election, Robert decided to join a law firm.
Did you know?
In 1961, when President John F. Kennedy discussed his failed invasion of Cuba he said, “There’s an old saying, ‘Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan.'” What do you think that means?
In pop culture
Here is a scene from the 1990 Stephen King movie IT. This clip is called “Pennywise is Defeated.” Warning: If you don’t like scary clowns, don’t watch this video!
There are other meanings of defeat.
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