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Synonyms

batter

1 American  
[bat-er] / ˈbæt ər /

verb (used with object)

  1. to beat persistently or hard; pound repeatedly.

    Synonyms:
    pelt, smite, belabor

  2. to damage by beating or hard usage.

    Rough roads had battered the car. High winds were battering the coast.
    Synonyms:
    ruin, destroy, shiver, shatter, smash, wound, bruise

verb (used without object)

  1. to deal heavy, repeated blows; pound steadily.

    continuing to batter at the front door.

noun

  1. Printing.

    1. a damaged area on the face of type or plate.

    2. the resulting defect in print.

batter 2 American  
[bat-er] / ˈbæt ər /

noun

  1. a mixture of flour, milk or water, eggs, etc., beaten together for use in cooking.

verb (used with object)

  1. to coat (an ingredient) with a mixture made from flour, milk, eggs, etc., especially as preparation for frying.

batter 3 American  
[bat-er] / ˈbæt ər /

noun

Sports.

  1. a player who swings a bat or whose turn it is to bat, as in baseball or cricket.

batter 4 American  
[bat-er] / ˈbæt ər /

verb (used without object)

  1. (of the face of a wall or the like) to slope backward and upward.

noun

  1. a backward and upward slope of the face of a wall or the like.

batter 1 British  
/ ˈbætə /

verb

  1. to hit (someone or something) repeatedly using heavy blows, as with a club or other heavy instrument; beat heavily

  2. (tr; often passive) to damage or injure, as by blows, heavy wear, etc

  3. (tr) social welfare to subject (a person, esp a close relative living in the same house) to repeated physical violence

  4. (tr) to subject (a person, opinion, or theory) to harsh criticism; attack

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
batter 2 British  
/ ˈbætə /

noun

  1. the slope of the face of a wall that recedes gradually backwards and upwards

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to have such a slope

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
batter 3 British  
/ ˈbætə /

noun

  1. a mixture of flour, eggs, and milk, used to make cakes, pancakes, etc, and to coat certain foods before frying

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
batter 4 British  
/ ˈbætə /

noun

  1. sport a player who bats

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
batter 5 British  
/ ˈbætə /

noun

  1. a spree or debauch

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of batter1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English bateren, probably from Middle French, Old French batre “to beat,” with the French infinitive ending -re identified with -er 6; bate 2

Origin of batter2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bat(o)ur, bat(e)re, perhaps from Anglo-French bature, Old French bat(e)ure “act of beating,” equivalent to bat(re) “to beat” + -eure (from -ātūra assumed abstract noun suffix); reinforced by batter 1; bate 2, -ate 2, -ure

Origin of batter3

First recorded in 1765–75; bat 1 + -er 1

Origin of batter4

First recorded in 1540–50; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A surge in energy costs would squeeze consumers and threaten to upend a fragile global economy already battered by trade conflicts.

From The Wall Street Journal

This innings combined the best of his aggression and elegant strokeplay as he became the first batter to make two centuries at a World Cup following his unbeaten 100 off 58 balls against Namibia.

From BBC

Financial-technology stocks have been battered in recent years — and now may be worth a fresh look.

From MarketWatch

The moors, battered by the elements, play a central role in the novel, as well as in Emerald Fennell's film.

From Barron's

They are part of a cost-cutting drive by the world's biggest chemical company, which has been battered by high energy costs in Germany, weak demand and massive overcapacity on global markets.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.