beaten

adjective

beat·​en ˈbē-tᵊn 

1

: hammered into a desired shape

beaten gold

2

: much trodden and worn smooth

also : familiar

a beaten path

3

: being in a state of exhaustion : exhausted

Phrases

off the beaten track or US off the beaten path

: in a remote place rarely visited by people

The store is truly located off the beaten path, in an industrial park tucked away on a quiet road.

—Mike Lustig

I am always looking for trips that are off the beaten track and are simple, safe, and rewarding in the numbers and varieties of birds located.

—Hugh P. Smith, Jr.

Synonyms

• all in
• aweary [archaic]
• beat
• bleary
• burned-out
• burnt-out
• bushed
• dead
• done
• drained
• exhausted
• fatigued
• jaded
• knackered [British]
• limp
• logy
• loggy
• played out
• pooped [slang]
• prostrate
• spent
• tapped out
• tired
• tuckered (out)
• washed-out
• wearied
• weary
• wiped out
• worn
• worn-out

Examples of beaten in a Sentence

felt beaten after three months of 90-hour workweeks

Recent Examples on the Web

Three shallow bowls: one with flour, another with beaten egg, the third with breadcrumbs. —Yotam Ottolenghi, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024

Score the puff pastry lightly in a diagonal pattern with a sharp knife or box cutter, then brush it with the beaten egg. —The Editors, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2024

Dredge the egg whites: Take each egg white half and dredge it in flour, gently shaking off the excess before dipping it in the beaten egg. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2023

Remove and discard plastic wrap from rolls, and gently brush tops of rolls with some of the beaten egg. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English beten, from past participle of beten "to beat entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beaten

• beaten biscuit
• weather-beaten

Kids Definition

beaten

adjective

beat·​en ˈbēt-ᵊn 

: worn smooth by passing feet

the beaten path