Antonyms for beat down


Grammar : Adj, verb
Spell : beet
Phonetic Transcription : bit


Definition of beat down

Origin :
  • c.1300, "a beating, whipping; the beating of a drum," from beat (v.). As "throb of the heart" from 1755. Meaning "regular route travelled by someone" is attested from 1731, also "a track made by animals" (1736), from the sense of the "beat" of the feet on the ground (late Old English), or perhaps that in beat the bushes to flush game (c.1400), or beat the bounds (1560s). Extended to journalism by 1875. Musical sense is by 1842, perhaps from the motion of the conductor and the notion of "beating the time":
  • It is usual, in beating the time of a piece of music, to mark or signalize the commencement of every measure by a downward movement or beat of the hand, or of any other article that may be used for the purpose .... ["Godfrey Weber's General Music Teacher," 1842]
  • Earlier in music it meant a sort of grace note:
  • BEAT, in music, a transient grace note, struck immediately before the note it is intended to ornament. The beat always lies half a note beneath its principal, and should be heard so closely upon it, that they may almost seem to be struck together. ["The British Encyclopedia," London, 1809]
  • As in discouraged : adj disheartened
  • As in oppress : verb depress, subdue
  • As in overpower : verb beat; get the upper hand
  • As in reduce : verb defeat
  • As in subdue : verb keep under control; moderate
  • As in subjugate : verb overpower, defeat
  • As in suppress : verb restrain, hold in check
  • As in cheapen : verb diminish worth
  • As in defeat : verb frustrate
  • As in depress : verb deject, make despondent; exhaust
  • As in discourage : verb dishearten, dispirit
  • As in flatten : verb level out
  • As in haggle : verb bicker, quarrel
Example sentences :
  • Why beat down the nature given to us by a power beyond our control?
  • Extract from : « The Law-Breakers » by Ridgwell Cullum
  • For a moment he lifted his stick as if to beat down the door.
  • Extract from : « Nana, The Miller's Daughter, Captain Burle, Death of Olivier Becaille » by Emile Zola
  • Can he not, at the head of his army, beat down every opposition?
  • Extract from : « Patrick Henry » by Moses Coit Tyler
  • Then followed another growl which the colonel tried to beat down.
  • Extract from : « Soldiers Three, Part II. » by Rudyard Kipling
  • It beat down the wheat and pattered like elfin bullets on the forest leaves.
  • Extract from : « The Long Roll » by Mary Johnston
  • "My word," she answered, finding that she could not beat down his eye.
  • Extract from : « The Lure of the Mask » by Harold MacGrath
  • Did you not beat down the greatest of Moncrossen's fighting men?
  • Extract from : « The Promise » by James B. Hendryx
  • Two of you to each window, and beat down with your cutlasses all who try to board.
  • Extract from : « Devon Boys » by George Manville Fenn
  • There are also bombards which we could drag over the hills, and so beat down this iron gate.
  • Extract from : « Sir Nigel » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Then followed another growl which the Colonel tried to beat down.
  • Extract from : « Soldier Stories » by Rudyard Kipling

Synonyms for beat down

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019