Defeat definition
Internal strife defeats the purpose of teamwork.
When you beat your opponent in a race, this is an example of a situation where you defeat your opponent.
When you prevent a bill from becoming a law, this is an example of a situation where you defeat the bill.
When you have just lost a race, this is an example of a situation where you feel defeat.
The last setback defeated her, and she gave up.
How the children found their way back home defeats me.
The defeat of a lifelong dream.
The home team's defeat of their rivals.
The home team's defeat by their rivals.
Defeating our plans.
Origin of defeat
- Middle English defeten from defet disfigured from Old French desfait past participle of desfaire to destroy from Medieval Latin disfacere to destroy, mutilate, undo Latin dis- dis- Latin facere to do dhē- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From Wiktionary