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Prepositions after verbs

"beat by", "beat to" or "beat in"?

The verb 'beat' combines with different prepositions and particles depending on the meaning. Some combinations are common, while others are limited to specific contexts.

Quick answer

How to use beat with prepositions

Use 'beat by' to show the margin in a competition, 'beat to' mainly in expressions like 'beat someone to it' or 'beat a rhythm to music', and 'beat in' in physical or training contexts such as forcing something inward or teaching repeatedly.

Our team won and beat them by three points
She beat me to the answer
The rain beat in through the broken window
The coach beat discipline in through constant drills

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
beat someone by + amount

Showing the winning margin

Use 'beat by' to show how much one side won by.

He beat his opponent by two seconds
2
beat someone to + place/goal

Arriving or acting earlier

Use 'beat to' in expressions about reaching something first.

They beat us to the last tickets
3
beat in + direction/place

Moving forcefully inward

Use 'beat in' when something is driven inward by force.

Strong winds beat in against the doors
4
beat something in/into + person

Teaching through repetition

This pattern means to force an idea or habit into someone through repetition.

Teachers should not beat facts into students mechanically

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
beat by
She beat the record by half a second.
show the amount of victory or difference
beat to
He beat me to the microphone.
arrive or act before someone
beat in
Rain beat in through the open roof.
move inward with force
beat into
The rule was beaten into the recruits.
teach or force through repetition

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using 'beat to' for score difference

Use 'beat by' to express the winning margin.

✕ They beat us to five points. ✓ They beat us by five points.

Confusing 'beat in' with 'beat into'

'Beat into' is the usual pattern for forcing ideas into someone.

✕ The coach beat discipline in the players. ✓ The coach beat discipline into the players.

Using 'beat by' without a comparison

'Beat by' normally needs an amount or standard.

✕ She beat by in the race. ✓ She beat her rival by two metres.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Our side beat the champions ___ one goal.
2. She beat me ___ the final seat on the train.
3. Cold air beat ___ through the cracks.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'beat by' always followed by a number?

Usually it is followed by an amount, score, or measurement.

Can 'beat to' mean strike repeatedly?

No. In this pattern, it usually means reach something first.

Is 'beat in' common in everyday English?

It appears mainly in physical descriptions or figurative expressions about training and repetition.

back-by-away-out-in, up backfire on, in, as, at or with? backtrack on, to, in, after or by? "baffle by" or "baffle as"? "bake in" or "bake for"? balance by, in, on, with or between? ban from, in, for, by or on? "bang on" or "bang for"? "banish from" or "banish to"? baptize in, by, into, with or on? "bargain for" or "bargain with"? "bark at" or "bark in"?

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