Definitions for defeat
dɪˈfitde·feat

Princeton's WordNet(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defeat, lickingnoun

   an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest

   "it was a narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a convincing licking"

2. frustration, defeatverb

   the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals

3. get the better of, overcome, defeatverb

   win a victory over

   "You must overcome all difficulties"; "defeat your enemies"; "He overcame his shyness"; "He overcame his infirmity"; "Her anger got the better of her and she blew up"

4. kill, shoot down, defeat, vote down, vote outverb

   thwart the passage of

   "kill a motion"; "he shot down the student's proposal"

Wiktionary(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defeatnoun

   The act of defeating or being defeated

   Etymology: from desfait, from the verb desfaire des + faciō (to unmake).

2. defeatverb

   To overcome in battle or contest.

   Wellington defeated Napoleon at Waterloo.

   Etymology: from desfait, from the verb desfaire des + faciō (to unmake).

3. defeatverb

   To destroy, ruin, undo, lay waste to.

   Etymology: from desfait, from the verb desfaire des + faciō (to unmake).

4. defeatverb

   To nullify; to reduce, to nothing, the strength of.

   Etymology: from desfait, from the verb desfaire des + faciō (to unmake).

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Defeatverb

   to undo; to disfigure; to destroy

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

2. Defeatverb

   to render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

3. Defeatverb

   to overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

4. Defeatverb

   to resist with success; as, to defeat an assault

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

5. Defeat

   an undoing or annulling; destruction

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

6. Defeat

   frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

7. Defeat

   an overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory

   Etymology: [Cf. F. dfaite, fr. dfaire. See Defeat, v.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Defeat

   de-fēt′, v.t. to frustrate: to ruin.—n. a frustration of plans: ruin: overthrow, as of an army in battle.—n. Defeat′ure (Spens.), defeat: disfigurement, disguise. [O. Fr. defait, defaire, to undo—L. dis, neg. facĕre, to do.]

Military Dictionary and Gazetteer(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. defeat

   This word expresses the complete want of success of an army; a repulse signifying less, and a rout more, than defeat.

2. defeat

   To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defeat' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3245

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defeat' in Nouns Frequency: #1306

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'defeat' in Verbs Frequency: #623

How to pronounce defeat?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say defeat in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of defeat in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of defeat in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of defeat in a Sentence

1. Mohammad Shtayyehslammed:

   These agreements mark a dark day in the history of the Arab nation and a defeat for the Arab League.

2. President Vladimir Putin:

   Terrorism has become a global threat, we must defeat this evil. And Russia is open to uniting efforts with other governments, is ready to work on the creation of a modern non-bloc system of international security.

3. Ted Cruz:

   It is not complicated that on the seminal fight over amnesty in Congress, the Gang of Eight bill -- that was the brain child of Chuck Schumer and Barack Obama, would have granted amnesty to 12 million people here illegally -- that I stood with the American people and led the fight to defeat it in the United States Congress.

4. Allie Brandenburger:

   Hillary Clinton's political machine resorting to attacking Jeb over 9/11 is a depressing example of just how extreme the left has gotten. If there's one thing we should all agree on it's that in response to that horrific attack, the country came together with resolve in the face of evil to ensure we keep our country safe. Today, while Jeb has offered a plan to defeat ISIS, the Democrats have no strategy and they are making these craven attacks.

5. Bernie Sanders:

   There are those who say we cannot defeat a corrupt political system and fix a rigged economy, but I believe we need to lift our vision above the obstacles in place -- and look to the American horizon.

Images & Illustrations of defeat

Popularity rank by frequency of use