defeated; defeating; defeats
1
: to win victory over : beat
defeated their archrivals in the championship game
The bill was defeated in the Senate.
2
a
: frustrate sense 2a(1)
defeat a hope
b
law
: nullify
defeat an estate
3
obsolete
: destroy
… his unkindness may defeat my life …—Shakespeare
1
: frustration by nullification or by prevention of success
The bill suffered defeat in the Senate.
2
a
: an overthrow especially of an army in battle
celebrate their defeat of the enemy
b
: the loss of a contest
his first defeat as a professional boxer
3
obsolete
: destruction
… upon whose property and most dear life a damned defeat was made.—Shakespeare
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share