beat 1 of 3

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as in to throb
to expand and contract in a rhythmic manner the patient's heart beats roughly 60 times per minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

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beat

2 of 3

noun

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as in pulse
a rhythmic expanding and contracting a single beat of the heart is said to be all that separates the vice president from the presidency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in rhythm
the recurrent pattern formed by a series of sounds having a regular rise and fall in intensity moved to the beat of the music

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

beat

3 of 3

adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beat
Verb
Pete Crow-Armstrong got a superb secondary lead and jump to beat a throw to second base on a routine grounder with two outs to load the bases, setting up Miguel Amaya’s three-run double. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025 The Red Raiders rallied from 13 points in the final five minutes to beat the Razorbacks in the Sweet 16. Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
Michael is a five-time Minnesota Sportswriter of the Year and in 2017 was named the inaugural Red Fisher Award winner as best beat writer in the NHL. Michael Russo, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025 The show is thrilling as a sensory experience, humming with sinister percussive beats and the occasional muffled animal squawk in the distance. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
In season two, when Mike White’s series decamped to Sicily, the credits riffed on Italian frescoes that got increasingly debauched — with a beat drop from opera to EDM. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025 Amanda Seyfried will star in the series which follows a beat cop working as the opioid crisis grips the streets of Philadelphia. Lucy Ford, TIME, 20 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for beat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Verb
  • Flames were licking the upper branches of tall trees.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • While investors are licking their wounds from a plunging stock market, and businesses brace for economic fallout, major investment banks are reaping extraordinary profits, according to Wall Street Journal.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Brazil’s 2023 Presidential election, Lula da Silva defeated Jair Bolsonaro by less than two percentage points.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In the last year, Church & Dwight’s revenue growth surpassed its outlook and, according to sources, outperformed its competitors.
    Seth Matlins, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • His incredible durability and ability led him to become the NBA’s all-time scorer on February 7, 2023, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who held the record for 39 years.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Migraines commonly cause dizziness, nausea, throbbing pain on one side of the head and increased sensitivity to light.
    Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Flow Space, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Wrist and arm pain: Carpal tunnel syndrome causes throbbing or burning pain in the wrists, certain fingers, and hands.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The Chinese and Hong Kong flags flutter as screens display the Hang Seng Index outside the Exchange Square complex, which houses the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on January 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, China.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Romantic connections will sweeten up by April 30 regardless, as your amorous ruler Venus finally flutters back into your relationship sector, softening your heart to the healing magic of love.
    Nina Kahn, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Although so highly esteemed, the notoriously taciturn director would often frustrate his colleagues by his reticence to explain his directorial intentions.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mary Magdalene, as the patron saint of outcasts, seemed to draw them in, welcoming skeptics like me to make room in our minds for more complex possibilities.
    Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
  • According to The Hollywood Reporter, annual fan conventions have been known to draw over 100,000 spectators.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Over 12,000 glowing Amazon ratings back up the hype.
    Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The episode follows Maria (Siena Kelly), a food researcher whose latest project receives a glowing review from a focus group subject named Verity (Rosy McEwen), one of Maria's ex-classmates who was relentlessly bullied in school.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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