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A1 noun #1,548 am häufigsten 13 Min. Lesezeit

defeat

Top 1,548

At the A1 level, the word 'defeat' is introduced as a simple noun meaning a 'loss' in a game or a sport. Beginners learn this word in the context of playing games, watching sports on television, or talking about simple competitions. At this stage, the focus is on understanding that 'defeat' is the opposite of 'victory' or 'win'. Students learn basic sentences like 'Our team had a defeat today' or 'I do not like defeat'. The vocabulary surrounding the word is kept very simple, often paired with basic verbs like 'have' or 'be'. For example, 'The game was a defeat'. Teachers use visual aids, such as scoreboards showing a losing score, to illustrate the concept. The emotional aspect is also introduced simply, associating 'defeat' with feeling sad or unhappy. Role-playing games where one student wins and another loses help solidify the meaning. At this foundational level, the distinction between the noun and the verb form is usually not emphasized heavily, but students are taught to recognize the word when they see it in simple reading texts about sports or daily activities. The goal is for the learner to comprehend the basic idea that a defeat means someone did not win the game. This sets the stage for more complex usage in higher levels, where collocations and metaphorical meanings will be introduced. For now, keeping it tied to tangible, everyday examples like football matches or board games is the most effective way to ensure comprehension and retention of this essential vocabulary word.

As learners progress to the A2 level, their understanding of 'defeat' expands slightly. They begin to learn common collocations, particularly the verb 'suffer'. Instead of just saying 'We had a defeat', they are encouraged to say 'We suffered a defeat'. This introduces a more natural English phrasing. The context also broadens beyond simple games to include basic historical events or stories. For example, reading a simple story about a king who experiences a defeat in battle. At this level, students also learn to use adjectives to describe the defeat, such as a 'big defeat' or a 'bad defeat'. They start to understand that defeat can be a countable noun (e.g., 'The team had three defeats this season'). Practice exercises at the A2 level might involve matching the word 'defeat' with its opposite 'victory' or filling in the blanks in sentences about sports news. The emotional vocabulary connected to defeat also grows, allowing students to express that a defeat makes people feel disappointed or frustrated. Teachers might ask students to write short paragraphs about a time they experienced a defeat in a sport or a game, encouraging them to use the new collocations and adjectives. This helps internalize the word and its proper usage in slightly more complex sentence structures. The distinction between the noun 'defeat' and the noun 'loss' is introduced gently, showing that they can often be used in similar ways when talking about sports. Overall, the A2 level builds on the basic A1 understanding by adding necessary grammatical structures and slightly more varied contexts.

At the B1 level, the usage of 'defeat' becomes significantly more sophisticated. Learners are introduced to a wider range of collocations, such as 'admit defeat', 'accept defeat', and 'narrow defeat'. The contexts in which the word is used expand into politics, business, and personal challenges. Students learn to read and understand news articles where 'defeat' is used to describe election results or the failure of a company's strategy. The metaphorical use of the word becomes apparent; for instance, 'admitting defeat' when trying to fix a broken computer. At this intermediate stage, learners are expected to distinguish clearly between the noun and the verb forms of 'defeat' and use them correctly in sentences. They also learn to differentiate 'defeat' from similar words like 'failure' and 'loss', understanding the subtle nuances—that defeat usually implies an opponent, whereas failure might not. Writing tasks at the B1 level might require students to write an opinion essay on whether experiencing defeat is necessary for success, using the word in abstract and philosophical ways. Listening exercises involve comprehending sports commentary or news reports that use advanced vocabulary related to defeat. The focus is on fluency and accuracy, ensuring that students do not make common mistakes like saying 'make a defeat'. By the end of the B1 level, learners should feel comfortable using 'defeat' in a variety of everyday and moderately formal contexts, demonstrating a solid grasp of its collocations and emotional connotations.

In the B2 level, learners encounter 'defeat' in complex, authentic texts and are expected to use it with high precision. The vocabulary surrounding the word becomes much richer, including adjectives like 'crushing', 'humiliating', 'devastating', and 'inevitable'. Students learn advanced collocations such as 'inflict a defeat on someone' or 'concede defeat'. The contexts are highly varied, encompassing international relations, complex historical analyses, and in-depth psychological discussions about resilience and overcoming adversity. At this upper-intermediate level, learners analyze the rhetorical use of 'defeat' in speeches and literature. They might study a famous political concession speech and analyze how the speaker frames the defeat. Writing assignments require students to use the word in formal reports or academic essays, demonstrating an understanding of register and tone. For example, writing a historical account of a military campaign, using precise terminology to describe the series of defeats and victories. Speaking exercises might involve debating the impact of a significant political defeat on a country's future. Learners are also expected to understand idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs related to the concept of losing, even if they don't use the word 'defeat' itself, and be able to relate them back to the core concept. The B2 level demands a nuanced understanding of how 'defeat' functions not just as a descriptor of an event, but as a powerful concept that shapes narratives in news, history, and personal development.

At the C1 advanced level, the mastery of the word 'defeat' involves understanding its subtlest nuances and employing it effortlessly in highly complex and abstract contexts. Learners at this stage deal with texts that explore the philosophical, sociological, and psychological dimensions of defeat. They encounter the word in academic journals, literary fiction, and high-level journalism. The focus is on stylistic variation and the ability to use 'defeat' alongside a sophisticated vocabulary to convey precise shades of meaning. Students learn to appreciate the difference between a 'tactical defeat' and a 'strategic defeat' in military or business contexts. They use phrases like 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat' and understand the cultural resonance of such idioms. Writing at the C1 level involves crafting compelling narratives or persuasive arguments where 'defeat' is a central theme, requiring flawless use of collocations, prepositions, and register. For instance, writing a critical review of a book that deals with the theme of human defeat in the face of nature. Speaking skills are honed through high-level discussions, such as analyzing the socio-economic factors that lead to the electoral defeat of a political movement. Learners are expected to self-correct any lingering minor errors and to use the word with the natural intuition of a native speaker. The C1 level is about moving beyond mere correctness to achieve eloquence and rhetorical power when discussing the concept of defeat.

At the C2 proficiency level, the learner's understanding and use of 'defeat' are indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. The word is used effortlessly in the most demanding and specialized contexts, whether it be in legal, academic, literary, or diplomatic discourse. C2 learners can deconstruct complex arguments regarding historical defeats, analyzing the underlying causes and long-term consequences with sophisticated vocabulary. They understand the etymological roots of the word and how its usage has evolved over time. At this level, learners can play with the language, using 'defeat' in creative, ironic, or deeply poetic ways. They might write an essay exploring the existential concept of defeat in modern literature, or deliver a presentation on the psychological mechanisms of coping with catastrophic defeat in high-stakes environments. The mastery involves not just the word itself, but the entire semantic field surrounding it—synonyms, antonyms, idioms, and cultural references. C2 learners can seamlessly integrate 'defeat' into complex sentence structures, using inversion, cleft sentences, and advanced passive forms (e.g., 'Seldom has such a crushing defeat been witnessed in the political arena'). They are acutely aware of the emotional weight the word carries and can modulate their tone accordingly, whether offering condolences for a personal defeat or objectively analyzing a corporate defeat. At this ultimate stage of language acquisition, 'defeat' is fully integrated into the learner's linguistic repertoire, ready to be deployed with absolute precision and artistry.

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Losing a game or battle.
The opposite of victory.
Failing to beat an opponent.
An event where you are beaten.

The word defeat as a noun represents a fundamental concept in human experience, specifically referring to an instance of losing a game, a race, a battle, or any form of competition. When we talk about a defeat, we are discussing the outcome where one side is beaten by an opponent or an enemy. This concept is deeply ingrained in our society, as competition is a natural part of life, from childhood games to professional sports, and from personal struggles to global conflicts. Understanding the nuances of this word requires looking at its emotional, psychological, and practical implications. A defeat is not merely a statistical loss; it often carries a weight of disappointment, frustration, and sometimes, a profound sense of failure. However, it is also universally recognized as a crucial stepping stone toward eventual success, providing valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.

Sports Context: In sports, a defeat means your team scored fewer points than the opposing team, resulting in a loss for that particular match or tournament.

The team suffered a crushing defeat in the final match.

Beyond sports, the term is frequently used in military and political contexts. A military defeat implies that an army has been overpowered by its enemy, often resulting in a surrender or a retreat. In politics, a defeat occurs when a candidate fails to secure enough votes to win an election, or when a proposed law is rejected by a legislative body. The scale of a defeat can vary significantly. We often use adjectives to describe the severity of the loss. For example, a narrow defeat suggests that the contest was very close and the losing side almost won. Conversely, a heavy defeat or a crushing defeat indicates that the losing side was completely overwhelmed and lost by a wide margin.

Military Context: In warfare, a defeat signifies the failure to achieve military objectives, often leading to the loss of territory, resources, or strategic advantage.

The general refused to admit defeat despite being surrounded.

Psychologically, experiencing a defeat can be challenging. It requires resilience and the ability to process negative emotions constructively. Many motivational speakers and psychologists emphasize the importance of learning from a defeat rather than being paralyzed by it. This perspective shifts the focus from the pain of losing to the potential for future improvement.

Personal Context: On a personal level, a defeat can be failing a test, not getting a job, or being unsuccessful in a personal endeavor.

She took the defeat as a lesson and trained harder.

Their first defeat of the season shocked the fans.

We must prevent the defeat of this important environmental bill.

In summary, a defeat is a multifaceted concept that touches upon various aspects of human endeavor. Whether in the arena of sports, the theater of war, the halls of politics, or the quiet struggles of daily life, understanding what constitutes a defeat and how to respond to it is a vital part of the human experience. It is the counterpoint to victory, and without the possibility of defeat, the triumph of winning would lose much of its meaning and value.

Using the noun defeat correctly in English involves understanding the specific verbs, adjectives, and prepositions that commonly accompany it. This section will guide you through the syntactic and semantic patterns that native speakers use when discussing a defeat. To begin with, let us look at the verbs that are most frequently paired with this noun. When you are the one who loses, you typically 'suffer a defeat', 'experience a defeat', or 'face a defeat'. These verbs highlight the passive or enduring nature of losing. On the other hand, if you are discussing the act of acknowledging a loss, you would use verbs like 'admit defeat', 'accept defeat', or 'concede defeat'.

Collocation: Suffer a defeat: This is the most common way to express that someone has lost a game or battle. It emphasizes the negative experience of losing.

The army suffered a terrible defeat in the mountains.

Conversely, when you are the winner causing the other side to lose, you 'inflict a defeat' on them. This verb choice is more formal and is often found in historical or journalistic writing. Adjectives play a crucial role in modifying the noun defeat to convey the scale, emotional impact, or closeness of the loss. A 'narrow defeat' means the loss was by a very small margin. A 'heavy defeat', 'crushing defeat', or 'humiliating defeat' indicates a severe loss where the opponent was vastly superior.

Collocation: Admit defeat: To admit defeat means to stop trying to win or succeed because you realize that you cannot.

After three hours of trying to fix the car, I finally admitted defeat.

Prepositions are also important. We often talk about a defeat 'for' someone or a defeat 'by' someone. For instance, 'a defeat for the government' or 'a defeat by the rival team'. We can also use 'in' to specify the context, such as 'a defeat in the final round' or 'a defeat in battle'. Understanding these prepositional phrases helps in constructing complex and accurate sentences.

Prepositional Usage: Use 'defeat by' to indicate the winner, and 'defeat for' to indicate the loser in a broader context.

The election resulted in a massive defeat for the ruling party.

It was a narrow defeat, losing by only one point.

They inflicted a humiliating defeat on their rivals.

In everyday conversation, the noun defeat is often used metaphorically. For example, if you are trying to solve a difficult puzzle and you give up, you might say, 'I accept defeat.' This metaphorical usage shows how deeply the concept of winning and losing is embedded in our language, extending far beyond actual competitions or battles. Mastering the use of this noun involves practicing these collocations and understanding the subtle differences in meaning they create.

The noun defeat is ubiquitous in the English language, appearing across a wide variety of contexts, from casual conversations to formal news reports. Because it describes a universal human experience—losing—you will encounter it frequently in both spoken and written English. One of the most common places you will hear this word is in sports broadcasting and journalism. Sports commentators constantly analyze victories and defeats. You will hear phrases like 'a devastating defeat', 'bouncing back from defeat', or 'a string of defeats'. In this context, the word is used to describe the objective outcome of a match, but it is often colored with emotional language to convey the feelings of the players and fans.

Sports Media: Sports news relies heavily on the word defeat to summarize the outcomes of games, tournaments, and seasons.

The coach took full responsibility for the team's defeat.

Another major domain where the word defeat is prevalent is in political discourse. Elections are essentially competitions, and the outcomes are framed as victories and defeats. Political analysts discuss 'electoral defeats', 'legislative defeats', and 'policy defeats'. When a politician loses an election, they typically give a 'concession speech', which is a formal public acceptance of their defeat.

Political News: In politics, a defeat can refer to losing an election or failing to pass a specific law or policy.

The senator acknowledged his defeat gracefully on national television.

Historical documentaries and textbooks also use the word defeat extensively. History is often told through the lens of conflicts, wars, and battles. You will read about 'historic defeats', 'military defeats', and 'the defeat of the empire'. In these contexts, the word carries a heavy, serious tone, often associated with significant loss of life and geopolitical changes.

Historical Contexts: Historians use the term to describe the outcome of wars and battles that shaped the modern world.

The battle of Waterloo marked the final defeat of Napoleon.

He stared at the screen as the word DEFEAT flashed in red.

She could not hide her disappointment after such a bitter defeat.

Finally, in everyday life, people use the word defeat to describe personal setbacks. If someone is trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or learn a difficult skill, they might describe a moment of failure as a defeat. This usage highlights the internal, psychological battles we fight every day. Recognizing the word in these varied contexts will help you understand its versatility and emotional resonance in the English language.

When learning how to use the noun defeat, English learners often make a few predictable mistakes. These errors usually stem from confusing the noun form with the verb form, using incorrect collocations, or misunderstanding the subtle differences between defeat and similar words like loss or failure. This section will break down these common pitfalls to help you use the word accurately and naturally. The most frequent mistake is confusing the noun and the verb. Because the word defeat is spelled and pronounced exactly the same in both forms, it is easy to mix up their grammatical roles.

Noun vs. Verb Confusion: Remember that as a noun, defeat is a thing (an event of losing). As a verb, it is an action (to beat someone).

Incorrect: They suffered a lose. Correct: They suffered a defeat.

Another common error involves choosing the wrong verb to go with the noun defeat. Many learners try to translate directly from their native language, resulting in unnatural phrases like 'make a defeat' or 'do a defeat'. In English, you do not make or do a defeat. Instead, you 'suffer', 'experience', 'take', or 'admit' a defeat. Using the correct collocations is essential for sounding like a native speaker.

Incorrect Collocations: Avoid using verbs like 'make', 'do', or 'have' with defeat. Stick to established collocations.

Incorrect: We had a defeat. Better: We suffered a defeat.

Learners also sometimes confuse defeat with failure. While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. A defeat implies a contest against an opponent—another team, an enemy army, or a rival politician. A failure is broader and can refer to any lack of success, even when there is no opponent involved, such as failing an exam or a business failing. You would not typically say 'I suffered a defeat in my math test' unless you were jokingly treating the test as an enemy.

Defeat vs. Failure: Use defeat when there is an opponent. Use failure for general lack of success.

The chess player analyzed his defeat to improve his strategy.

It was a sad defeat for the home team.

She refused to accept defeat and kept trying.

By paying attention to these common mistakes, you can refine your use of the word defeat. Remember to treat it as a noun that requires specific verbs like suffer or admit, ensure you are using it in contexts involving an opponent, and be mindful of the prepositions that follow it. Practice these patterns, and your English will sound much more natural and precise.

When expanding your vocabulary, it is helpful to understand words that have similar meanings to defeat. These synonyms can add variety to your writing and speaking, allowing you to express the concept of losing with different nuances and intensities. The most common synonym for a defeat is a 'loss'. While defeat often implies a direct confrontation or battle, loss is a more general term. You can have a loss in sports, but you can also experience a loss of keys, a loss of money, or the loss of a loved one. Defeat is much more specific to competitions and conflicts.

Loss: A more general term for not winning or no longer having something. It is less intense than defeat.

The team's first defeat felt like a terrible loss.

Another related word is 'failure'. As discussed in the common mistakes section, failure is the opposite of success and does not necessarily require an opponent. If a scientific experiment does not work, it is a failure, not a defeat. However, in the context of a personal goal where you are fighting against your own limitations, you might use the words interchangeably metaphorically. For more intense or severe defeats, English offers several descriptive nouns. A 'rout' is a disastrous defeat where the losing side is completely disorganized and runs away. A 'drubbing' or a 'thrashing' are informal terms used primarily in sports to describe a defeat where the losing team is beaten by a very large margin.

Rout: A heavy defeat, often resulting in a chaotic retreat by the losing side.

The match turned into a rout, a humiliating defeat for the champions.

In political or formal contexts, you might encounter the word 'downfall'. A downfall is a sudden loss of power, status, or success. While a defeat can cause a downfall, they are not exactly the same. A defeat is a single event, whereas a downfall is the overall process of losing one's position. Understanding these subtle differences allows you to choose the perfect word for the situation.

Downfall: A loss of power or prosperity, often caused by a significant defeat or a series of failures.

The scandal led to his political defeat and eventual downfall.

Every defeat is just a temporary setback on the road to success.

They experienced a bitter defeat that felt like a total failure.

By mastering these synonyms and related terms, you will be able to articulate the concept of losing with much greater precision and emotional depth, enhancing both your comprehension and your expressive capabilities in English.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

Informell

Umgangssprache

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Beispiele nach Niveau

The team had a defeat today.

The team lost the game.

Used as a simple singular noun.

I do not like defeat.

I hate losing.

Used as an uncountable noun representing the concept.

It was a bad defeat.

It was a terrible loss.

Modified by a simple adjective 'bad'.

Their defeat made them sad.

Losing made them unhappy.

Used as the subject of the sentence.

We saw the defeat on TV.

We watched them lose on television.

Used as the object of the verb 'saw'.

One more defeat means we are out.

If we lose again, we are eliminated.

Used with a number to show it is countable.

The game ended in defeat.

The game finished with a loss.

Used with the preposition 'in'.

He cried after the defeat.

He shed tears after losing.

Used after the preposition 'after'.

Our school suffered a defeat in the final match.

Our school lost the last game.

Introduces the collocation 'suffer a defeat'.

The general planned to avoid defeat.

The leader tried not to lose.

Used with the verb 'avoid'.

It was their first defeat of the year.

They hadn't lost until now this year.

Used with ordinal numbers.

She accepted her defeat with a smile.

She lost but stayed happy.

Introduces the collocation 'accept defeat'.

The heavy defeat shocked the fans.

The big loss surprised everyone.

Introduces the adjective 'heavy'.

They are tired of constant defeats.

They are sick of losing all the time.

Plural form used with an adjective.

The news reported the army's defeat.

The TV said the soldiers lost.

Used with possessive noun.

He learned a lot from his defeat.

Losing taught him a lesson.

Used with the preposition 'from'.

The politician had to admit defeat after the votes were counted.

The candidate confessed to losing the election.

Collocation 'admit defeat'.

Despite a narrow defeat, the team played brilliantly.

Even though they lost by a little, they played well.

Collocation 'narrow defeat'.

The company faced a major defeat in the legal battle.

The business lost a big court case.

Used in a business/legal context.

Experiencing defeat builds character and resilience.

Losing makes you stronger.

Used as an abstract concept as the subject.

They managed to avenge their previous defeat.

They won against the team that beat them before.

Used with the verb 'avenge'.

The defeat of the proposal angered many citizens.

People were mad that the idea was rejected.

Defeat used to mean rejection of an idea/law.

She refused to concede defeat until the very end.

She didn't give up until it was completely over.

Collocation 'concede defeat'.

The sudden defeat left the players in shock.

The unexpected loss surprised the players.

Used with the adjective 'sudden'.

The devastating defeat forced the manager to resign immediately.

The terrible loss made the boss quit.

Collocation 'devastating defeat'.

History books often analyze the causes of military defeats in great detail.

Books study why armies lose.

Plural form in an academic context.

He was unwilling to acknowledge defeat, clinging to a false hope of victory.

He wouldn't admit he lost, hoping to still win.

Collocation 'acknowledge defeat'.

The home team inflicted a humiliating defeat on their bitter rivals.

The local team beat their enemies very badly.

Collocation 'inflict a defeat on'.

Following the electoral defeat, the party had to completely rebuild its strategy.

After losing the election, the group changed its plans.

Used in a political context with 'electoral'.

The treaty marked the final and absolute defeat of the empire.

The agreement showed the empire was completely beaten.

Used with strong adjectives 'final and absolute'.

She stared at the screen, trying to process the magnitude of the defeat.

She looked at the computer, trying to understand how bad the loss was.

Used with 'magnitude of'.

A string of defeats early in the season ruined their chances of winning the championship.

Losing many times at the start meant they couldn't win the title.

Collocation 'string of defeats'.

The catastrophic defeat at the polls prompted a profound ideological crisis within the party.

The huge election loss caused the party to question its beliefs.

Advanced adjectives and complex sentence structure.

Rather than wallowing in defeat, the entrepreneur used the bankruptcy as a catalyst for her next venture.

Instead of being sad about losing, she used the failure to start a new business.

Idiomatic phrase 'wallowing in defeat'.

The general's tactical errors culminated in an ignominious defeat that ended his career.

The leader's mistakes led to a shameful loss that ruined his job.

Advanced adjective 'ignominious'.

It is a testament to his resilience that he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

It shows his strength that he won when he was almost losing.

Classic idiom 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat'.

The legislation suffered a resounding defeat in the Senate, effectively killing the reform effort.

The law was strongly rejected in parliament, stopping the changes.

Collocation 'resounding defeat'.

Psychologically, the fear of defeat can be more paralyzing than the defeat itself.

Being scared to lose can stop you more than actually losing.

Abstract philosophical use.

The documentary chronicles the slow, agonizing defeat of the indigenous population by colonial forces.

The film shows the long, painful loss of the native people to invaders.

Used with multiple descriptive adjectives.

Conceding defeat gracefully is a hallmark of true sportsmanship and diplomatic maturity.

Admitting you lost politely shows you are a good sport and mature.

Gerund phrase as the subject.

The historiography of the conflict often obscures the systemic failures that precipitated such an unequivocal defeat.

History books often hide the deep problems that caused the clear loss.

Highly academic vocabulary and syntax.

He bore the stigma of defeat with a stoicism that belied the inner turmoil consuming him.

He carried the shame of losing calmly, hiding his terrible inner feelings.

Literary phrasing 'stigma of defeat'.

The corporate takeover was less a merger and more a subjugation, resulting in the total defeat of the original board's vision.

The business buyout was a conquest, completely destroying the founders' plans.

Complex business/legal context.

In the existentialist novel, the protagonist's ultimate defeat is portrayed not as a tragedy, but as an inevitable consequence of absurdity.

In the book, the main character's final loss is seen as a normal part of a crazy world, not a sad event.

Literary analysis context.

The treaty was deliberately punitive, designed to institutionalize the defeat and prevent any future resurgence of the vanquished nation.

The agreement was meant to punish, making the loss permanent to stop the loser from rising again.

Advanced political/historical terminology.

Seldom has the political arena witnessed a defeat of such staggering proportions, effectively annihilating the opposition's credibility.

Rarely has politics seen such a huge loss, completely destroying the other side's trust.

Inversion 'Seldom has...' for rhetorical effect.

The avant-garde play explores the aesthetics of defeat, finding beauty in the ruins of shattered ambitions.

The modern play looks at the art of losing, finding nice things in broken dreams.

Abstract, artistic context.

To interpret the withdrawal merely as a tactical realignment is to willfully ignore the reality of a comprehensive strategic defeat.

To say the retreat was just a plan is to ignore that it was a huge, complete loss.

Infinitive phrases used as subjects for formal argumentation.

Synonyme

loss beating failure rout downfall overthrow

Gegenteile

victory win success

Häufige Kollokationen

suffer a defeat

admit defeat

accept defeat

concede defeat

inflict a defeat

narrow defeat

crushing defeat

heavy defeat

humiliating defeat

electoral defeat

Häufige Phrasen

admit defeat

accept defeat

suffer a defeat

concede defeat

a string of defeats

bounce back from defeat

in defeat

taste defeat

snatch victory from the jaws of defeat

a crushing defeat

Wird oft verwechselt mit

defeat vs loss

defeat vs failure

defeat vs setback

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

Leicht verwechselbar

defeat vs

Satzmuster

So verwendest du es

common errors

Using 'defeat' when 'failure' is more appropriate (e.g., 'My cake was a defeat' is incorrect; it should be 'My cake was a failure').

historical evolution

Originally related to the idea of 'undoing' or 'destroying', the word narrowed to specifically mean losing a battle or contest in modern English.

regional differences

The usage of 'defeat' is consistent across major English dialects (US, UK, Australian), though slang terms for defeat (like 'taking an L') may vary.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'make a defeat' instead of 'suffer a defeat'.
Confusing the noun 'defeat' with the verb 'defeat' in sentence structure.
Using 'defeat' when 'failure' is the correct word (e.g., failing a test).
Forgetting to use an article (a/the) when using it as a countable noun.
Using the preposition 'to' instead of 'for' (e.g., saying 'a defeat to our team' instead of 'a defeat for our team').

Tipps

Noun vs. Verb

Always check the context to see if 'defeat' is an action (verb) or a thing (noun). If it has 'a' or 'the' in front of it, it is a noun.

Use 'Suffer'

Memorize the phrase 'suffer a defeat'. This is the most natural way to express losing a game or battle in English.

Vary Your Adjectives

Instead of always saying 'a bad defeat', try using 'a crushing defeat', 'a heavy defeat', or 'a humiliating defeat' to make your writing more interesting.

Admitting Defeat

Use 'I admit defeat' in casual conversation when you give up on a puzzle, a difficult task, or an argument. It sounds very natural.

Sports Contexts

Watch English sports news. You will hear the word 'defeat' used constantly, which will help you learn its natural collocations.

Avoid 'Make a Defeat'

Never say 'we made a defeat' or 'they did a defeat'. Always use 'suffered', 'experienced', or 'took'.

Opponent Required

Remember that a defeat usually requires an opponent. If there is no opponent, use the word 'failure' instead.

Jaws of Defeat

Learn the idiom 'snatch victory from the jaws of defeat'. It is a great phrase to use when describing an amazing comeback in sports.

Defeat For / By

Use 'a defeat for [the loser]' and 'a defeat by [the winner]'. Example: It was a defeat for the blue team by the red team.

EA spelling

Remember the spelling by thinking of the word 'eat'. You 'eat' a defeat when you lose. D-E-F-E-A-T.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

De-FEAT: Think of someone looking down at their FEET in sadness after losing a game.

Wortherkunft

Late Middle English

Kultureller Kontext

The 'concession speech' after an electoral defeat is a major cultural event in US and UK politics, symbolizing the strength of democracy.

In English-speaking cultures, 'taking a defeat well' (not complaining or getting angry) is highly valued and taught to children from a young age.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"What is the most memorable defeat your favorite sports team has suffered?"

"Do you think experiencing defeat makes a person stronger?"

"How do you usually react when you face a defeat in a game or competition?"

"Can you think of a historical defeat that changed the world?"

"Why is it important to learn how to accept defeat gracefully?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a time when you suffered a defeat. How did you feel and what did you learn from it?

Write about a famous historical defeat and its consequences.

Do you agree with the quote 'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts'? Relate this to the concept of defeat.

How does your culture view defeat in sports or politics?

Write a story about a character who turns a crushing defeat into a future victory.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Yes, 'defeat' is both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it means to win against someone in a war, competition, or game. For example, 'Our team defeated the champions.' As a noun, it refers to the event of losing, as in 'Our team suffered a defeat.'

In sports, they are often used interchangeably. However, 'defeat' sounds slightly more formal and emphasizes the presence of an opponent who actively beat you. 'Loss' is a more general term that can apply to losing objects, money, or people, whereas 'defeat' is strictly for competitions or battles.

It can be both. It is countable when referring to specific instances of losing (e.g., 'The team had three defeats this season'). It is uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of losing (e.g., 'He cannot handle defeat').

'Suffer' is the standard collocation used by native speakers to emphasize the negative experience and emotional pain associated with losing. While 'have a defeat' is grammatically understandable, it sounds unnatural in English.

To 'admit defeat' means to stop trying to do something because you realize you cannot succeed. It is often used metaphorically. For example, if you try to fix a broken pipe for hours and cannot, you might 'admit defeat' and call a plumber.

Usually, no. 'Defeat' implies an opponent. For an exam, you are not fighting an opponent; you are testing your own knowledge. Therefore, it is better to say 'I failed the exam' or 'The exam was a failure' rather than 'I suffered a defeat in the exam'.

A 'narrow defeat' means that the losing side lost by a very small margin. For example, in a basketball game, losing by one point is a narrow defeat. It implies the contest was very close.

The most direct opposites of the noun 'defeat' are 'victory', 'triumph', 'win', and 'success'. If you do not suffer a defeat, you achieve a victory.

In politics, 'defeat' refers to a candidate losing an election or a proposed law failing to get enough votes to pass. For example, 'The senator acknowledged his electoral defeat' or 'The bill suffered a defeat in parliament'.

This is a famous idiom. It means to suddenly win a game or competition at the very last moment, when it seemed absolutely certain that you were going to lose. It describes a miraculous comeback.

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writing

Write a short sentence using the word 'defeat' to describe a sports game.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Uses the word in a simple A1 context.