beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ How to pronounce beating (audio)
1
: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage
also : the injury or damage thus inflicted
2
3

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Related article Iran accuses detained British couple of spying Flogging is a form of beating that involves a whip or rod and is commonly administered to the person’s back. Artemis Moshtaghian and Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025 Prosecutors told the panel that the beatings that killed little Ayden began the day before his death. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2025 Naomi took the beating as well as anyone could have asked. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 He was found guilty of ordering the fatal beating of Treese, the owner of an Oklahoma City motel where Glossip was a handyman, per the AP. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beating

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beating was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beating. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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