# battered

/ˈbætɝd/ (US) · /bˈætəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/battered
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. damaged by use

adjective · CEFR B1

looking old and damaged because it has been used a lot.

For teachers: showing signs of significant wear and tear or physical damage through prolonged use or exposure.

- He carried his books in a battered old leather suitcase.
- The battered pickup truck had survived twenty winters in the mountains, its bodywork covered in dents and rust from years of hard service.

### 2. coated in flour mixture

adjective · CEFR B1

covered in a mixture of flour, eggs, and milk before being fried.

For teachers: coated in a liquid mixture of flour and liquid (such as milk, water, or beer) prior to deep-frying.

- I ordered the battered fish with a side of thick chips.
- The chef served golden, battered onion rings that remained remarkably crisp despite the humidity in the kitchen.

### 3. very drunk

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang · British English

extremely drunk from drinking too much alcohol.

For teachers: highly intoxicated by alcohol. Primarily used in British and Australian English.

- They went to the pub and got absolutely battered.
- After the wedding reception, several guests were so battered they had to be helped into their taxis by the hotel staff.

### 4. repeatedly hit

adjective · CEFR B2

damaged or hurt by being hit many times.

For teachers: having been subjected to repeated physical blows or heavy impact.

- The small boat was battered by the heavy waves during the storm.
- The coastline was battered by gale-force winds, leaving the promenade littered with debris from the collapsed sea wall.

## Examples

- I am too battered to cook dinner tonight.
- The team looked battered after playing three matches in one week.
- Politically battered by months of scandal, the prime minister struggled to regain the trust of his party.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.