defeated
C1 (Upper Intermediate / Advanced)Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Having been beaten in a contest, battle, or struggle; having failed to win.
Overcome or overwhelmed by a powerful force, circumstance, or emotion, leading to a state of resignation or hopelessness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Defeated" often implies a more conclusive and decisive loss than "beaten." When describing a person, it strongly connotes a psychological or emotional state of acceptance of loss and demoralization, not just the objective fact of losing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The core usage is identical. British English might slightly prefer 'beaten' in some sporting contexts, while 'defeated' is consistently formal.
Connotations
In both varieties, the adjective form powerfully evokes a sense of broken spirit or morale.
Frequency
Comparatively equal frequency. Common in political, military, sports, and personal narrative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be defeated by [agent/team/problem]feel defeatedlook/sound defeateddefeated in [election/war/game]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a defeated look (on one's face)”
- “go down defeated”
- “accept defeat”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a competitor outmaneuvered or a proposal rejected. 'After the merger fell through, the CEO had a defeated air about him.'
Academic
Used in historical/political analysis of conflicts, elections, or ideological struggles. 'The defeated army retreated across the river.'
Everyday
Describes losing a game, argument, or personal struggle. 'She felt defeated after trying to fix the leak herself.'
Technical
In gaming/esports: 'the defeated player's avatar disappears.' In law: 'the defeated party in the litigation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The home side were defeated in the final minutes of the match.
- The bill was defeated in the House of Lords.
American English
- The incumbent was defeated in the primary election.
- Our team defeated their rivals in the championship.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Our football team was defeated 3-0.
- He looked sad and defeated.
- The defending champion was defeated by a newcomer.
- Feeling defeated, she decided to try a new approach.
- The government was defeated in a vote of no confidence.
- Despite the defeated tone of his speech, his supporters remained loyal.
- The motion was narrowly defeated after a lengthy and acrimonious debate.
- A sense of defeated resignation permeated the organisation after the scandal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'FEAT' inside 'deFEATed' – when you are defeated, your great feat has been undone.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A BATTLE / A STRUGGLE. 'Defeated' maps the experience of losing a conflict onto life's challenges, implying an opponent (problems, circumstances).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating Russian "разбитый" for physical tiredness; "defeated" is primarily mental/contest-based. Use "exhausted" instead.
- Do not use for a broken object (разбитая чашка = broken cup).
- "Пораженный" as in 'surprised' is "astonished," not "defeated."
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I am very defeated from work. (Correct: I am very exhausted/tired from work.)
- Incorrect: The defeated glass was on the floor. (Correct: The broken glass...)
- Overusing as a synonym for 'sad' or 'disappointed.' It implies a prior active struggle.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'defeated' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While common in competitive contexts, it's widely used for any struggle (e.g., against an illness, a difficult task, or one's own emotions).
They are often interchangeable, but 'defeated' is more formal and often emphasizes the finality of the loss and its psychological impact. 'Beaten' can be more physical or informal.
Rarely and only metaphorically (e.g., 'a defeated landscape' after a war). It does not mean physically broken.
Verb: 'They defeated us.' Adjective (needs a verb like 'be', 'feel', 'look'): 'We were/feel/look defeated.'