Meaning

(intransitive) To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To violate rules in order to gain, or attempt to gain, advantage from a situation.
2. (intransitive) To be unfaithful to one's spouse or partner; to commit adultery, or to engage in sexual or romantic conduct with a person other than one's partner in contravention of the rules of society or agreement in the relationship.
3. (transitive) To avoid a seemingly inevitable thing.
4. (transitive) To deceive; to fool; to trick.
5. (informal, intransitive) To disregard self-imposed restrictions or commitments in favour of resting or indulging oneself.
6. (countable) An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception.
7. (countable) Someone who cheats.
8. (uncountable) The weed cheatgrass.

Example Sentences

My brother flunked biology because he cheated on his mid-term.

My husband cheated on me with his secretary.

After he found out his wife cheated, he left her.

While the nonavoidant passive-aggressive cheats for the sexual gratification and tries to disguise his or her cheating afterwards, in contrast, the passive-aggressive avoidant cheats less for the sex than to send a message[…]

He cheated death when his car collided with a moving train.

I feel as if I've cheated fate.

My ex-wife cheated me out of $40,000.

He cheated his way into office.

Word Forms

• cheats
• cheating
• cheated

Synonyms for cheat

Related Words

When Should You Use Cheat?

Use cheat when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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