1 cheat
Pronounced:
/ˈtʃi:t/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
cheats; cheat·ed; cheat·ingMeaning:
1 [no obj] : to break a rule or law usually to gain an advantage at something ▪ The players were accused of cheating. ▪ I had to cheat in order to solve the puzzle. —often + on or at ▪ She was caught cheating on a test. ▪ They cheated on their taxes. ▪ He cheats at cards.
2 [+ obj] a : to take something from (someone) by lying or breaking a rule ▪ The store cheats its customers through false advertising. —usually + out of ▪ He cheated [=tricked, swindled] the elderly couple out of their property. ▪ I was cheated out of 20 dollars. b : to prevent (someone) from having something that he or she deserves or was expecting to get ▪ They cheated him out of a fair deal. —usually used in the phrase feel cheated ▪ Tourists felt cheated when they arrived and found out the cathedral was closed.
3 [+ obj] : to avoid (something bad, dangerous, etc.) by being clever or lucky ▪ a heroin addict who has cheated death many times ▪ They tried to cheat fate. [=they took a risk and hoped be lucky]
2 [+ obj] a : to take something from (someone) by lying or breaking a rule ▪ The store cheats its customers through false advertising. —usually + out of ▪ He cheated [=tricked, swindled] the elderly couple out of their property. ▪ I was cheated out of 20 dollars. b : to prevent (someone) from having something that he or she deserves or was expecting to get ▪ They cheated him out of a fair deal. —usually used in the phrase feel cheated ▪ Tourists felt cheated when they arrived and found out the cathedral was closed.
3 [+ obj] : to avoid (something bad, dangerous, etc.) by being clever or lucky ▪ a heroin addict who has cheated death many times ▪ They tried to cheat fate. [=they took a risk and hoped be lucky]
cheat on [phrasal verb]
cheat on (someone) informal : to break a promise made to (someone, such as your wife or husband) by having sex with someone else ▪ He cheated on his wife/girlfriend.
—cheat·er noun plural cheat·ers [count]