What are the definitions of “beat out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Narrowly win in competition.
The marathon runner barely BEAT OUT his rival at the tape.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “beat out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb beat out is to narrowly win in a competition or contest. It means that someone has won by a small margin or just barely defeated their opponent.
What are the different verb forms of “beat out”?
| Root Verb | beat out |
| Third Person Singular Present | beats out |
| Present Participle | beating out |
| Simple Past | beat out |
| Past Participle | beaten out |
Example
She managed to beat out her competitor in the final round.
Example
He beats out his rival in every race they compete in.
Example
She is beating out her opponent in the last few seconds of the game.
Example
Yesterday, our team beat out the other team by one point.
Example
The champion had beaten out all challengers in the tournament.
What kind of phrasal verb is “beat out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“beat out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She beat out her opponent in the final round.
Example
Our team beat the other team out by a small margin.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“beat out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She beat out her opponent in the final round.
Example
Our team beat the other team out by a small margin.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “beat out”?
Good things to know
Does “beat out” have an informal or formal tone?
Beat out is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in casual conversations. In more formal settings, it is better to use synonyms like 'defeat' or 'surpass' to convey the same meaning.
