ENGLISH
REFERENCE

defeating

v.
B1 Intermediate US //dɪˈfitɪŋ// UK //dɪfˈiːtɪŋ// de·feat·ing

v. winning a victory over someone in a fight, game, or argument. It means you have successfully beaten an opponent.

v. overcoming an opponent in a contest, battle, or competition; frustrating the efforts or purposes of another. Present participle form of 'defeat'.


SIMPLE

Our team is defeating the champions in the final match.

CONTEXTUAL

By focusing on local issues, the candidate is slowly defeating her opponent in the polls.

COMPLEX

The general realized that defeating the enemy would require a sophisticated strategy involving both naval blockades and ground maneuvers.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the opponent or obstacle.

© 2026 English Reference