defeated

UK: /dɪˈfiːtɪd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•feat /dɪˈfit/   v. [ ~ + obj]

1. to overcome in a contest;
   beat:
   He was defeated in the last election.
2. to frustrate;
   thwart:
   This kind of problem always defeats me.

n. 

3. the act of overcoming in a contest:
   [uncountable] didn't accept defeat well.
4. an instance of defeat;
   setback:
   [countable] He suffered several defeats in close elections.

de•feat•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

de•feat  (di fēt′), v.t. 

1. to overcome in a contest, election, battle, etc.;
   prevail over;
   vanquish:
   They defeated the enemy. She defeated her brother at tennis.
2. to frustrate;
   thwart.
3. to eliminate or deprive of something expected:
   The early returns defeated his hopes of election.
4. Law to annul.

n. 

5. the act of overcoming in a contest:
   an overwhelming defeat of all opposition.
6. an instance of defeat;
   setback:
   He considered his defeat a personal affront.
7. an overthrow or overturning;
   vanquishment:
   the defeat of a government.
8. a bringing to naught;
   frustration:
   the defeat of all his hopes and dreams.
9. the act or event of being bested;
   losing:
   Defeat is not something she abides easily.
10. [Archaic.] undoing;
    destruction;
    ruin.

• Medieval Latin disfacere, equivalent. to Latin dis- dis-¹ + facere to do
• Anglo-French, Old French desfait, past participle of desfaire to undo, destroy
• Middle English defeten (verb, verbal) 1325–75

de•feat′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. overwhelm, overthrow, rout, check.
  Defeat, conquer, overcome, subdue imply gaining a victory or control over an opponent.
  Defeat suggests beating or frustrating:
  to defeat an enemy in battle.
  Conquer implies finally gaining control over, usually after a series of efforts or against systematic resistance:
  to conquer a country, one's inclinations.
  Overcome emphasizes surmounting difficulties in prevailing over an antagonist:
  to overcome opposition, bad habits.
  Subdue means to conquer so completely that resistance is broken:
  to subdue a rebellious spirit.
• 2. foil, baffle, balk.
• 7. downfall.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

defeat / dɪˈfiːt/ verb (transitive)

1. to overcome in a contest or competition; win a victory over
2. to thwart or frustrate
3. to render null and void; annul

noun

1. the act of defeating or state of being defeated

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French desfait, from desfaire to undo, ruin, from des- dis-¹ + faire to do, from Latin facere