What does defeating mean?
Defeating is the present participle and gerund of the verb defeat, describing the act of gaining victory over an opponent or of frustrating an intended outcome. In its most familiar sense, it appears wherever contests are decided: teams, armies, candidates, and champions are all spoken of as being worth defeating or as succeeding in defeating rivals. A second, more abstract sense covers the frustration of plans or purposes — measures can end up defeating their own ends, and obstacles can prove capable of defeating every effort made against them. The word derives from the Latin deficere, meaning to undo or fail, via Old French desfait, so its history literally involves unmaking what an adversary has accomplished. Neutral in tone and at home in both news reporting and casual conversation, defeating is a versatile word whose figurative use — as in 'defeating the purpose' — has given English one of its most quietly ironic phrases.
Present participle of defeat: to win a victory over someone or something in a fight, contest, or competition; or to frustrate and prevent the success of a plan, aim, or effort.
"She spent two years defeating every challenger who came her way."
Used with a direct object; in the figurative sense it commonly pairs with abstractions such as purpose, object, or efforts.
The act or instance of defeating someone or something; the process of overcoming an opponent or thwarting an aim.
"Defeating such a formidable rival would require more than talent alone."
Functions as a verbal noun, often taking a possessive or direct object ('his defeating of the champion' is less common than 'his defeat of the champion').
Defeating shares its Latin root with 'defect' — both come from facere, 'to do or make'; to defeat someone was originally, in a sense, to undo what they had done.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of defeating
Defeating comes from defeat, which entered English from Old French desfait, the past participle of desfaire, ultimately from Latin deficere, 'to undo, fail, or desert', formed from de- ('away, down') plus facere ('to do or make'). The original sense of undoing or unmaking an opponent's work broadened into winning victory over them. Cognates sharing the same Latin root include defect, deficient, and feint.
Related word forms
How defeating is actually used
Neutral in register, suitable for both formal journalism and everyday speech. In sports and politics, defeating is the standard word for beating an opponent; in abstract contexts ('defeating the purpose'), it carries a slightly ironic tone.
Easily confused with defeating
Deforming means distorting or misshaping something, whereas defeating means overcoming or beating it in a contest or struggle.