third-person singular verb
A person or team beats another when it wins against them.
Our team beats the champions every season.
She beats me at chess.
American English
How to pronounce beats
verb · nounB1Very common word
BEETS
/bits/
One syllable.
Form of beat
Beats is used as a third-person singular verb and as a plural noun.
A person or team beats another when it wins against them.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
third-person singular verb
Someone beats a person or thing by hitting it many times, usually with force.
The boxer beats the heavy bag every morning.
Rain beats against the windows all night.
third-person singular verb
A heart beats when it makes regular movements to push blood through the body.
Her heart beats faster when she runs.
His heart beats about 100,000 times a day.
third-person singular verb
Someone beats a drum or another object by hitting it in a regular rhythm.
The drummer beats a steady rhythm on the snare drum.
The conductor beats time with a small baton.
Useful expressions
To do or say something before another person does.
I was going to call, but Ana beat me to it.
To avoid saying something directly.
Stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened.
To go away; this is informal and often rude.
The guard told the boys to beat it.
Related words & forms
The past form is beat, but the past participle is beaten.