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

Advertisement World & Nation Mixed verdict for 3 Memphis officers convicted in Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating Oct. 4, 2024 Bean and Smith were acquitted on the more serious charges related to the civil rights violations, and of conspiracy to tamper with witness testimony. —Adrian Sainz, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024

All were convicted of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges. —Adrian Sainz, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024

The beating of Nichols by police officers following a traffic stop was captured in video footage eventually released by the city of Memphis. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Three former Memphis, Tennessee, police officers were convicted Thursday of federal witness tampering charges related to the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Oct. 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