Beat out Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Competition Context Use 'beat out' to describe victory in contests or races where competition is direct. He beat out the reigning champion in the last round. Pro Tip 2/3Closely Contested 'Beat out' implies a close or difficult victory, often by a small margin. The sprinter barely beat out her rival at the finish line. Pro Tip 3/3Job Achievements Use 'beat out' to indicate someone was chosen for a position over other applicants. I beat out dozens of applicants for the internship.