beat the record

USAGE SUMMARY

"beat the record" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to suggest that someone do better than the existing standard or best performance. For example: "We have to beat the record and get our new product to the market before the competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bekele beat the record by 0.34 seconds.

The New York Times

That beat the record by.16sec.16sec

The Guardian - Sport

Aram MP3, who will be dressed all in black, is hoping to beat the record.

Independent

With two races left in the season, Vettel has a chance to beat the record.

The New York Times

"We want to encourage the American motorists to try to beat the record".

The New York Times

That we beat the record by one degree is quite a big deal".

The New York Times - Science

This beat the record of 26 in Providence, Guyana in 2010 when Pakistan played West Indies.

The Guardian - Sport

Boys & Girls also beat the record, finishing second in 1 29.01.

The New York Times

He needs 85 more from 47 balls to beat the record.

The Guardian - Sport

Then, Sacchi, a rider with Milram, beat the record by carrying... 18 bidons.

The Guardian - Sport

There's a tank out the back should you feel the urge to beat the record.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about accomplishments in competitive settings, use "beat the record" to convey the act of surpassing a previously established benchmark. Be sure to specify what record was beaten for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the wrong tense when referring to the record. For example, ensure you use "beat the record" (past tense) when referring to a completed action, not "beating the record" unless in a continuous context or as a gerund.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beat the record" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of surpassing a previously established achievement or best performance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "beat the record" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that effectively communicates the act of surpassing an existing achievement. Ludwig AI confirms that it's a valid expression. As shown by Ludwig, it is most frequently found in news and sports contexts. While using the phrase, remember to maintain correct tense usage to avoid errors. Alternative phrases like "break the record" or "surpass the record" can be used to add variety to your writing. Its clear meaning and widespread use make it a reliable choice for expressing accomplishment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

break the record

Focuses on disrupting the previous record, implying a significant change.

surpass the record

Highlights exceeding the current record, suggesting going beyond the established limit.

exceed the record

Similar to surpass, but can also imply a slightly greater margin of achievement.

top the record

Emphasizes reaching the highest point, implying the record is at the peak of achievement.

eclipse the record

Suggests overshadowing the previous record, making it seem less significant in comparison.

better the record

Implies improving upon the existing record, signifying a qualitative enhancement.

outdo the record

Focuses on performing better than the previous record holder, emphasizing competition.

shatter the record

Implies breaking the record by a large margin, with a sense of emphatic achievement.

smash the record

Similar to shatter, but suggests a more forceful and impactful break.

overcome the record

Implies defeating the challenge posed by the existing record, emphasizing the difficulty.

FAQs

What does it mean to "beat the record"?

To "beat the record" means to surpass a previously established best performance or highest achievement in a particular activity or field.

What can I say instead of "beat the record"?

You can use alternatives like "break the record", "surpass the record", or "exceed the record" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "beat the record"?

Yes, "beat the record" is a correct and commonly used phrase in English. It accurately conveys the idea of outperforming a previous best.

What's the difference between "beat the record" and "set a new record"?

"Beat the record" implies surpassing an existing record, while "set a new record" means establishing a new benchmark where none existed before or replacing an old one. /s/Setting+a+new+record implies creation while /s/Beat+the+record implies improvement over an existing one.