he defeated me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he defeated me" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone has won against you in a competition, game, or conflict. Example: "In the final match, he defeated me, and I couldn't believe how close the score was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"He's a more passionate karaoke singer than I am," she said, "so I have to admit, he defeated me".

The New York Times

(In seventh grade he defeated me for vice-president of the student council…) And I'm friends with Howard Gordon, too, who runs the show.

The New Yorker

He defeated me by three games to one.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Months after the deaths, Blickhahn told me, "They defeated me").

The New Yorker

Ironically, I argue against these rules, even though under them I would have unseated Kevin Rudd in 2010, given colleagues would have signed up in sufficient numbers to have him gone, but he could never have defeated me in 2013.

The Guardian

Shortage of time finally defeated me - he spent several days in cities where I had only one - so I had my revenge by seeing some things that he had ignored.

The New York Times - Travel

I don't remember exactly how old he was when he started taking chess seriously; I learned the moves at age seven (thanks to my cousin Cynthia and Peterr and I started playing soon thereafter; he trounced me, and even defeated me handily when giving me queen odds (i.e., starting the game without his queen, the most powerful piece).

The New Yorker

And then he says it: I once knew a man called Tool To me, was the epitome of cool He was good with a knife Bad with a wife But to think he could beat me Dreaming he'd defeat me Cool Tool You gotta be a fool Oh yeah!

The Guardian - Film

On the campaign trail, he uses the senator, who died in 2009, as a foil, denouncing Mr. Kennedy's "liberal welfare state" policies and boasting of how Mr. Kennedy "had to take out a mortgage on his house to make sure he could defeat me".

The New York Times

One passage defeated me.

The Guardian - Books

"The language defeated me," she said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he defeated me" to clearly and directly state that you lost in a competition, argument, or other form of contest. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "he defeated me" to describe situations where there was no direct competition or contest. For instance, saying "The weather defeated me" is incorrect; instead, use "The weather thwarted my plans" or "The weather made it impossible for me to proceed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he defeated me" functions as a declarative statement expressing a loss or setback. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. The phrase clearly communicates the outcome of a competitive scenario, where one party has overcome another.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he defeated me" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express a loss in a competitive situation. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct. While not extremely common, it is readily understood in both formal and informal settings. Related phrases include "he beat me" and "I lost to him". When using this phrase, ensure the context involves a direct competition to avoid misuse. Top authoritative sources are news publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he beat me

This alternative is more informal and direct, implying a straightforward victory.

i lost to him

This alternative is simpler and more direct, focusing on the act of losing.

he won against me

This alternative is slightly more formal and emphasizes the act of winning in opposition.

i was defeated by him

This alternative changes the sentence structure to passive voice.

he triumphed over me

This alternative is more formal and suggests a significant victory after a struggle.

he overcame me

This alternative implies a challenge or obstacle that the opponent successfully surpassed.

he bested me

This alternative is slightly archaic and implies superior skill or cunning.

he conquered me

This alternative suggests a complete and decisive victory, often in a more figurative sense.

he routed me

This alternative implies a crushing and overwhelming defeat.

he prevailed over me

This alternative emphasizes endurance and eventual success against odds.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he defeated me"?

You can use alternatives like "he beat me", "he won against me", or "he triumphed over me" depending on the context.

Is "he defeated me" formal or informal?

The phrase "he defeated me" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its straightforward nature makes it versatile for various situations.

How to use "he defeated me" in a sentence?

You can use "he defeated me" in a sentence to describe a loss in a competition, such as "In the final match, he defeated me, and I couldn't believe how close the score was."

What's the difference between "he defeated me" and "I lost to him"?

While both phrases convey the same outcome, "he defeated me" emphasizes the victor's action, whereas "I lost to him" focuses on your own loss. They are largely interchangeable, but the choice may depend on the desired emphasis.