DEFEAT

[verb] [T] - to win a victory over (someone) in a fight, war or competition, or to cause (someone or something) to failNapoleon was defeated by the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo.If we can defeat the Italian team, we'll be through to the final.The proposal to change the rules was narrowly (= only just) defeated by 201 votes to 196.They were soundly/resoundingly/roundly (= completely) defeated.Our hopes and ambitions for this tournament have been defeated (= caused to fail) by the weather.I'm afraid anything that involves language learning has always defeated me (= I have been unable to do it).See also self-defeating.