To force someone or something to retreat by fighting or resisting strongly.
To push an enemy or something dangerous away by fighting hard.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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
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."
To hit something repeatedly and cause it to go back the way it came.
To push an enemy or something dangerous away by fighting hard.
Commonly used in military or historical contexts, but also used figuratively for resisting forces like illness, competition, or criticism.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "beat back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.