1 B1 neutral
To defeat a rival or competitor, especially in a close contest.
"She beat out dozens of other candidates to land the lead role in the film."
separable
beat out
B2 neutral separable transitive
To defeat a competitor or rival; to extinguish fire by hitting it; to produce a rhythm by tapping.
In plain English
To win against someone else, or to put out a fire by hitting it.
What does "beat out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To extinguish flames by hitting them with something.
"The campers beat out the small fire with their jackets before it could spread."
separable
3 B2 neutral
To produce a rhythm by tapping or drumming.
"The percussionist beat out a complex rhythm on the tabletop."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hit something outward or until it is gone.
Actually means
To win against someone else, or to put out a fire by hitting it.
Usage tip
'Beat out' in the competitive sense is very common in sports, business, and entertainment journalism. The fire-extinguishing sense is more literal and less frequent. Also used for tapping out a rhythm on a surface.
Words that pair with "beat out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
competition rivals flames rhythm bid record
How to conjugate "beat out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
beat out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
beats out
he/she/it
Past simple
beat out
yesterday
Past participle
beaten out
have + pp
-ing form
beating out
continuous
Hear "beat out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "beat out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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