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
ShakespeareExamples of defeat in a Sentence
We must be ready to defeat our enemies in battle.
Our candidate defeated him in the last election.
She finally found a solution to a problem that had defeated many other researchers.
The bill was defeated in the state senate.
Scientists from around the world are working to defeat the disease.
Recent Examples on the Web
After defeating Chwalinska in straight sets, Andreeva took time at the end of her acceptance speech to speak Russian, seemingly in defiance of the vilification due to her ethnic heritage by the tennis governing bodies and opposing players.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
The Knicks defeated the Spurs, 105-104, in dramatic fashion to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the 2026 NBA Finals — and the next two games are back at home, in front of the rowdiest, most passionate fan base in all of professional sports.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
Jacob Gonzalez hit his first major league home run, Colson Montgomery also went deep and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Saturday.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
On March 30, Marist put on a power show, defeating Lincoln-Way West 11-5 in New Lenox.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defeat
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Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
The Knicks defeated the Spurs, 105-104, in dramatic fashion to take a commanding 2-0 series lead in the 2026 NBA Finals — and the next two games are back at home, in front of the rowdiest, most passionate fan base in all of professional sports.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
Jacob Gonzalez hit his first major league home run, Colson Montgomery also went deep and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Saturday.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
On March 30, Marist put on a power show, defeating Lincoln-Way West 11-5 in New Lenox.
—Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for defeat
Cite this Entry
“Defeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defeat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
defeat
1 of 2 verb
de·feat
di-ˈfēt 
1
: to destroy the value or effect of
the lawyers defeated the will
2
: to win a victory over
defeated their team
defeat
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or an instance of making ineffective by prevention of success
the bill suffered defeat by Congress
the defeat of one's hopes
2
a
: an overthrow of an army in battle
b
: loss of a contest (as by a team)
Legal Definition
defeat
transitive verb
de·feat
1
a
: to render null
third parties will defeat an attached but “unperfected” security interest—J. J. White and R. S. Summers
J. J. White and R. S. Summers
b
: to prevent or undo the effectiveness or establishment of
defeat jurisdiction
defendant took stand and defeated intoxication defense—National Law Journal
National Law Journal2
a
: to prevail over
b
: to thwart the claim of
defeat creditors
an intent to defeat the surviving spouse of his…elective share—Tennessee Code Annotated
Tennessee Code Annotated
defeat
noun
Etymology
Anglo-French defait, past participle of defaire to undo, defeat, from Old French deffaire, desfaire, from de-, prefix marking reversal of action + faire to do
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