# defeated

/dɪˈfitəd/ (US) · /dɪfˈiːtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/defeated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. beaten in a contest

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: having been overcome in a contest, battle, or competition.

- The defeated team walked off the field with their heads down.
- The defeated candidate delivered a gracious concession speech, urging her supporters to respect the democratic process and the final tally.

### 2. feeling hopeless

adjective · CEFR B2

feeling like you have failed and cannot succeed.

For teachers: feeling or showing a sense of hopelessness or resignation after failure.

- He had a defeated look on his face after his third job interview failed.
- After months of fruitless negotiations, the lead diplomat returned with a defeated expression that suggested no further progress was possible.

### 3. past action of winning against

verb · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: the past tense and past participle of the transitive verb 'defeat'.

- The local army defeated the invaders after a long battle.
- The underdog team unexpectedly defeated the reigning champions in the final minutes of the match, causing a massive upset in the league standings.

## Examples

- The defeated team walked off the field in silence.
- After hours of trying to fix the broken engine, the mechanic sat down with a defeated look on his face.
- The general surveyed the defeated troops, noting that while their physical strength was gone, their spirit remained surprisingly intact despite the overwhelming odds they had faced.

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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.