[
US
/dɪˈfit/
]
[ UK /dɪfˈiːt/ ]
[ UK /dɪfˈiːt/ ]
NOUN
- the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals
-
an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
the army's only defeat
it was a narrow defeat
they suffered a convincing licking
VERB
-
thwart the passage of
kill a motion
he shot down the student's proposal -
win a victory over
Her anger got the better of her and she blew up
He overcame his shyness
He overcame his shyness
defeat your enemies
He overcame his infirmity
You must overcome all difficulties
How To Use defeat In A Sentence
- For centuries, scholars have squabbled over the design of the ship, which was crucial to defeating the Persians in the Battle of Salamis in 480 B.C., part of a wider war that included the fight at Thermopylae dramatized in the film "300. Epic Struggle: Fans Fight to Revive an Oar-Powered Greek Warship
- according to the Old Testament, Elijah defeated the priests of Baal at Mount Carmel
- Ministers are attempting to come up with a compromise to avoid defeat on Wednesday. Times, Sunday Times
- After several attempts to untie the knot, I admitted defeat and cut through it with a knife.
- He did not want a repeat performance of the humiliating defeat he had suffered.
- Their last nine league games have brought four wins, four defeats and a draw. The Sun
- Their pastorals, both published in 1651, offered choices to Royalists in the aftermath of the crushing defeat at Worcester.
- an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters
- A British fleet defeated the French at Trafalgar.
- Matters went on pretty well with us until my master was seized with a severe fit of illness, in consequence of which his literary scheme was completely defeated, and his condition in life materially injured; of course, the glad tones of encouragement which I had been accustomed to hear were changed into expressions of condolence, and sometimes assurances of unabated friendship; but then it must be remembered that I, the handsomest blue coat, was _still in good condition_, and it will perhaps appear, that if I were not my master's The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 262, July 7, 1827
