beating

noun

beat·​ing ˈbē-tiŋ How to pronounce beating (audio)
1
: an act of striking with repeated blows so as to injure or damage
also : the injury or damage thus inflicted
2
3

Examples of beating in a Sentence

he wears a pacemaker to help maintain a regular beating of his heart took a beating and ended up in second place
Recent Examples on the Web The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can affect the electrical rhythms of the heart, in particular the beating of the upper, or atrial, chambers. Alice Park, TIME, 21 May 2024 But occasional harassment and vandalism, in the days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, escalated into beatings and murder threats. Mark Mazzetti Jonathan Davis Anna Diamond David Mason, New York Times, 16 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for beating 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English betynge, from gerund of beten "to beat entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beating was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near beating

Cite this Entry

“Beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beating. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

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