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Prepositions after verbs

Defeat by or defeat in?

Defeat is usually transitive: one team defeats another. In passive structures, by introduces the winner. In introduces the competition or event.

Quick answer

How is defeat used with by and in?

Use defeat someone directly: Brazil defeated Spain. In passive sentences, use by for the agent: Spain was defeated by Brazil. Use in for the event or competition: They were defeated in the final.

The champion was defeated by a younger player.
Our team was defeated in the semi-final.
France defeated Italy last night.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
defeat + object

Beating an opponent

Use defeat directly with the person, team, or side that loses.

The army defeated the rebels quickly.
2
be defeated by + agent

Naming the winner in passive voice

Use by after defeated to say who caused the defeat.

She was defeated by the world number one.
3
defeated in + event

Stating where the defeat happened

Use in for a match, war, election, or competition.

They were defeated in the election.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
defeat + object
The home side defeated the visitors.
Active voice with a direct object.
defeated by + agent
The visitors were defeated by the home side.
Passive voice naming the winner.
defeated in + event
The team was defeated in the final.
Shows the context or event of the defeat.

Common mistakes

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

Using by in active voice

Do not place by directly after defeat in active constructions.

✕ They defeated by their rivals. ✓ They were defeated by their rivals.

Confusing agent and event

Use by for the winner and in for the competition or situation.

✕ They were defeated by the final. ✓ They were defeated in the final.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The boxer was defeated ___ the reigning champion.
2. Our team was defeated ___ the quarter-final.
3. Choose the correct active sentence.

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Frequently asked questions

Can defeat be used without a preposition?

Yes. Defeat commonly takes a direct object: The champion defeated her opponent.

Why do we use by after defeated?

Because the sentence is passive and by introduces the agent.

Can in follow defeated?

Yes. In commonly refers to the competition, battle, or event where the defeat happened.

dabble, in, dabble, with "damage to" or "damage by"? dance to, with, on, in or for? "dangle from" or "dangle in"? dare to, for, on, as or at? dash to, into, out, from or on? daydream about, for, in, of or on? "debate in", "debate on" or "debate with"? deceive by, in, into, on or about? "decide on", "decide to" or "decide by"? declare in, by, on, to or as? decline in, by, from, to or for?

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