beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ 

1

: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage

also : the injury or damage thus inflicted

2

: pulsation

3

: defeat, setback

Synonyms

• beat
• palpitation
• pulsation
• pulse
• throb

Examples of beating in a Sentence

he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart

took a beating and ended up in second place

Recent Examples on the Web

In Memphis, family members and others paid tribute to the father, FedEx employee, avid skateboarder and amateur photographer at the site of his fatal beating. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 June 2024

Multiple people were involved in a cover-up minutes after the beating of Preston Lord, according to a whistleblower directly involved. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024

This period is now called the Great American Divide—the time following the severe beating of Rodney King by the Los Angeles Police Department in 1991 and the subsequent race riots. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 7 June 2024

When the other teen denied it, Pike allegedly kneed her in the face, kicking off a half hour of taunting, beating and slashing. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 24 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English betynge, from gerund of beten "to beat entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beating

• beating reed
• breast-beating
• take a beating
• take some beating
• world-beating