1 B2 neutral
To successfully resist or defeat an attack, competitor, or challenge.
"The local team beat off strong competition to win the regional championship."
separable
beat off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To successfully repel an attack, challenge, or competitor.
In plain English
To fight something off and stop it from winning or hurting you.
What does "beat off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To physically repel an attacker by striking them away.
"She managed to beat off her attacker and run to safety."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hit something away from you.
Actually means
To fight something off and stop it from winning or hurting you.
Usage tip
In British English, 'beat off' is a normal, neutral phrasal verb meaning to repel. In American informal English, it has a vulgar secondary meaning, so speakers sometimes prefer 'fight off' or 'fend off' to avoid ambiguity.
Words that pair with "beat off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
competition challenge attack rivals bid threat
How to conjugate "beat off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
beat off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
beats off
he/she/it
Past simple
beat off
yesterday
Past participle
beaten off
have + pp
-ing form
beating off
continuous
Hear "beat off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "beat off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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