Beaten describes something that has been struck repeatedly, defeated, or worn down through use or hardship.

When eggs are beaten for a cake, they're whipped vigorously until they become fluffy and light. A beaten path through the woods shows where many feet have walked the same route over and over, wearing down the grass and soil. Metal can be beaten into new shapes by a blacksmith's hammer, transforming a lump of iron into a horseshoe.

In competition, a beaten team has lost the game. A beaten opponent might feel discouraged after trying hard but coming up short. You might hear someone say they feel beaten down by constant difficulties, meaning those problems have worn away their energy and spirit.

The phrase off the beaten path describes something away from where most people go. If you discover a quiet bookstore off the beaten path, you've found a place most tourists never visit.

Sometimes beaten can suggest exhaustion or defeat: a beaten look on someone's face shows they've struggled hard.