beat 1 of 5

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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 5

noun

1
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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

3
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

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beat

3 of 5

adjective (1)

beaten

5 of 5

verb (2)

variants or beat
past participle of beat
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as in pulsed
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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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
The Sixers were on the second night of a back to back having beat the Lakers on Tuesday, 118-104. Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2025 Inside his bedroom, authorities located the items he was beaten with, according to prosecutors, who said blood was found on the iron and at least one drawer. Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
On the title track, a bleeping beat encircles the listener like the walls of a downward-spiraling tunnel, while Twigs seems to sing from miles above, somewhere in the sky. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2025 While the profit lag impacted stock performance, the revenue beat reflects underlying business strength and potential for recovery. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
The Corpse Had a Familiar Face by Edna Buchanan Amazon Edna Buchanan was a beat reporter for the Miami Herald, and this book, which came out in the late eighties, is a kind of journalistic memoir about her eighteen-year career covering crime there. The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024 Shortstop Miguel Rojas is so beat up he was restricted to the bench. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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 Chee mashes the kernels with beaten egg, salt and a flourish of sugar that brings the flavor into focus but leaves no trace of sweetness. Ligaya Mishan Esther Choi, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022
Verb
If the Steelers beat the Bengals and the Ravens beat the Browns, Pittsburgh will go on the road to face Stroud once again. Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 The only team Jacksonville has beaten since Week 7 is Tennessee (twice). Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for beat 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beat
Noun
  • An Idaho Supreme Court ruling against the construction of a new location for Boise’s Interfaith Sanctuary came as a blow, said Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers.
    Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The terminations would be a major blow to the historic independence of the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency and would reflect Trump’s determination to bend the law enforcement and intelligence community to his will.
    Gqlshare, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • And Connected Emporio Armani thrives on a deep connection to the cultural pulse, drawing inspiration from current movements in art, music, and society.
    Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
  • Pulses and cooling: Different types of laser devices typically deliver short pulses of light, sometimes separated by cooling the skin between applications.
    Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Some of our most ancient and mysterious megalithic sites, like the Nabta Playa stone circle and Stonehenge, point to the connection between our moving planet, the rhythms of the year and the lengths early humans would go to accurately predict them.
    Avery Keatley, NPR, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The rhythms of these practice fields are comforting and familiar: pitchers cover first base, infielders take ground balls, hitters take swings off an actual pitcher after a winter of working out in the batting cage.
    Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Bottom line By about five minutes into Zuckerberg’s prepared remarks, one thing was made perfectly clear: The fierce intensity he’s picked up in the octagon has made its way to the boardroom.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
  • And in the last 50 years, the measles vaccine alone has saved more than 90 million lives worldwide: the equivalent of 3 to 4 lives per minute.
    Eleanor Menzin, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Helman has high-end speed and can play anywhere defensively, along with some right-handed thump.
    Aaron Gleeman, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Not a lot, but for music that subwoofer does add some thump.
    Brad Moon, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Who is responsible for drawing up the game plan for a beating like that?
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The bruises of beatings still show on the soles of his feet and back.
    Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • With their Kangol hats, unlaced Adidas, and leather jackets, Run-DMC redefined the look as well as the sound of hip-hop at the end of the disco era, ushering in harsh drum machine beats, staccato cadences, and occasional explosions of hard rock guitar.
    Al Shipley, SPIN, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Plus the setup is supported by a cadence sensor too.
    Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Doomsday synths and a percussive heartbeat backdrop lyrics that bask in solitude and beckon toward death.
    Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 31 Jan. 2025
  • If they are taken inappropriately, side effects such as muscle weakness, irregular heartbeats, and stomach ulcers can occur.22 11.
    Kumkum S. Patel, Verywell Health, 31 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near beat

Cite this Entry

“Beat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beat. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.

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