win
- defeat - beat
‘win’
If you win a war, fight, game, or contest, you defeat your opponent. The past tense and -ed participle of win is won /wʌn/.
We won the game easily.
The party had won a great victory.
‘defeat’ and ‘beat’
Don't say that someone ‘wins’ an enemy or opponent. In a war or battle, you say that one side defeats the other.
The French defeated the English troops.
In a game or contest, you say that one person or side defeats or beats the other.
He defeated his rival in the semi-finals and went on to win the tournament.
She beat him at chess.