English Reference
adjective · verb

defeated

adj. · v.
US /dɪˈfitəd/ UK /dɪfˈiːtɪd/ de·feat·ed

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.having lost a game, a war, or a competition.

    adj.having been overcome in a contest, battle, or competition.

    Simple

    The defeated team walked off the field with their heads down.

    In context

    The defeated candidate delivered a gracious concession speech, urging her supporters to respect the democratic process and the final tally.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.feeling like you have failed and cannot succeed.

    adj.feeling or showing a sense of hopelessness or resignation after failure.

    Simple

    He had a defeated look on his face after his third job interview failed.

    In context

    After months of fruitless negotiations, the lead diplomat returned with a defeated expression that suggested no further progress was possible.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    v.the past tense of 'defeat', meaning someone won against another person.

    v.the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'defeat'.

    Simple

    The local army defeated the invaders after a long battle.

    In context

    The underdog team unexpectedly defeated the reigning champions in the final minutes of the match, causing a massive upset in the league standings.

Usage defeated pretty


From defeat + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated