Phrase guide

pound a beat

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Of a police officer, to walk a regular route.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Assigned to the riverfront precinct for years, he pounded a beat of backstreets and dockyards.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Of a journalist, to cover a regular beat, reporting on an assigned category of news.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Assigned to the city desk for years, she pounded a beat of city council and mayoral activity, police blotters, and the like.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.