Phrasal verb
beat out
Meanings
To defeat someone in a competition, race, or selection process.
To extinguish a small fire by striking or stamping on it repeatedly.
Definition
To beat out means to defeat someone in a competition or race.
To beat out someone is to win against them, often by a small margin. It is commonly used for competitions, auditions, elections, and races where one person or team is chosen over others. It can also mean to put out a fire by hitting it repeatedly until it goes out.
Examples
- I beat out three other applicants for the internship.
- She beat out her teammate by one second in the final sprint.
- They beat out the home team in overtime.
- We beat out two rival agencies to win the project.
- He beat out the flames with a wet jacket.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse beat out with beat up, but beat out usually means “defeat” (or “extinguish by hitting”), not “physically attack.”
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.