beat back
B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To push an enemy or something dangerous away by fighting hard.
Literal meaning: To hit something repeatedly and cause it to go back the way it came.
Meanings
1 B2 neutral
To force an attacking enemy or opponent to retreat through vigorous fighting.
"The soldiers managed to beat back the enemy assault before dawn."
"We beat back the worst recession in decades."
— Barack Obama, State of the Union Address, 2012
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To resist and overcome something harmful or threatening, such as fire, illness, or criticism.
"Firefighters worked through the night to beat back the advancing flames."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Commonly used in military or historical contexts, but also used figuratively for resisting forces like illness, competition, or criticism.
Commonly used with
flames enemy attack competition disease criticism
Forms
Base
beat back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
beats back
he/she/it
Past simple
beat back
yesterday
Past participle
beaten back
have + pp
-ing form
beating back
continuous
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