Defeated
/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo be beaten in a battle, contest, game, or election.
/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
To win a victory over someone or something.
The challenger was defeated by the champion.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, like soccer. If the other team scores more goals than yours, your team is defeated, like, the game is over, and they won!
👶 For kids: When you lose at a game or a race, you are defeated.
More Examples
The army was defeated after a long and brutal war.
She felt defeated after failing the exam.
He was defeated in the debate because he lacked evidence.
How It's Used
"The home team was defeated in a close match."
"The enemy army was decisively defeated in the battle."
"The incumbent candidate was defeated in the election."
Feeling or showing that you have failed and are not hopeful.
/dɪˈfiːtɪd/
Feeling or showing loss of hope.
He walked away with a defeated air.
💡 Simply: Ever feel like you just can't win? Like, no matter what you do, something bad happens? That's kinda like feeling defeated.
👶 For kids: Feeling sad because you think you can't do something.
More Examples
She had a defeated look on her face after the interview.
The team felt defeated after a series of losses.
The defeated candidate conceded the election.
How It's Used
"She had a defeated expression on her face after hearing the news."
"The defeated knight, his armor dented, slowly withdrew from the field."
Idioms & expressions
defeat the purpose
To cause something to fail to achieve its intended result.
"Adding too much sugar to the recipe will defeat the purpose of a healthy dessert."
From Old French *desfaire* meaning 'to undo' or 'destroy,' ultimately from Latin *disfacere* meaning 'to undo, abolish'.
Used for centuries to describe being beaten in battle or contests, and later evolved to reflect emotional states.
Memory tip
Think of a battlefield: those who are defeated are no longer in power.