The meaning of DEFEAT is to win victory over : beat. How to use defeat in a sentence.

Obviously recent defeats, outrage at domestic political developments and unfavourable international circumstances all played a major role in such a cycle of commitment.

To defeat someone is to beat them in a competition or contest.As a noun, a defeat is a loss (as in That was the team’s first defeat of the season) and defeat is the state of having lost (as in the …

Writing down your password so you remember it defeats the purpose of having a password. Staying late at the office to discuss shorter working hours rather defeats the object of the …

Nov 11, 2025 · defeat (countable and uncountable, plural defeats) Licking their wounds after a temporary defeat, they planned their next move.

Defeat suggests beating or frustrating: to defeat an enemy in battle. Conquer implies finally gaining control over, usually after a series of efforts or against systematic resistance: to …

If a task or a problem defeats you, it is so difficult that you cannot do it or solve it. There were times when the challenges of writing such a huge novel almost defeated her. [VERB noun]

These verbs mean to triumph over an adversary: defeated the opposing team by fourteen points; beat her competitor in the race for first place; conquered the enemy after a long battle; routed …

In World War II, America and the Allies defeated the Axis powers: we beat them. In basketball, Michael Jordan usually defeated his opponents. Any loss can be called a defeat. When you're …

The word 'defeats' originated from the Latin word 'deficere', meaning 'fail' or 'disappoint'. Over time, the meaning evolved to signify overcoming an opponent in battle or competition.