beast
gb/bˈist/ us/bˈist/
B1
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Large, dangerous animal
A big wild animal that can be dangerous.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] beast
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'beast' for any animal, but in modern English it usually suggests something large, wild, or dangerous.
Synonyms
animal (More general term for any living creature, not limited to large or dangerous ones.)
|
creature (Neutral term for any living being, including small or harmless ones.)
Antonyms
pet (A domesticated animal kept for companionship rather than danger.)
Collocations
wild beast
|ferocious beast
|mythical beast
|hunting beasts
Themes
animals
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The hunters tracked the beast through the forest.
- A huge beast emerged from the shadows.
- The villagers feared the beast that roamed the hills.
- The beast roared loudly before attacking.
- In the story, a brave knight fought a terrible beast.
Learner examples
- The lion is a dangerous beast.
- A beast lives in the forest.
- The man saw a big beast.
- They ran from the scary beast.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
Very strong or skilled person
A person who is very good at something or very strong.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a beast at [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is slang and not used in formal writing.
Synonyms
champion (Focuses on winning or being the best, not necessarily physical strength.)
|
powerhouse (Emphasizes great strength or energy.)
Antonyms
weakling (A person lacking strength or skill.)
Collocations
beast mode
|total beast
Themes
sports
|slang
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She’s a beast on the basketball court.
- That guitarist is an absolute beast.
- He went beast mode during the final match.
Learner examples
- He is a beast at football.
- She plays like a beast.
- My friend is a beast at chess.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Difficult or unpleasant thing
Something that is very hard to do or handle.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a different beast
Synonyms
challenge (Focuses on difficulty but without the metaphorical tone.)
|
burden (Emphasizes heaviness and unpleasantness.)
Antonyms
breeze (An informal term for something easy to do.)
Collocations
different beast
Themes
work
|life
|daily_life
|communication
Examples
- Starting your own business is a different beast from working for someone else.
- The new software update turned out to be a real beast to install.
- Negotiating with them can be a beast.
Learner examples
- This test is a beast.
- The job is a different beast than last year.
- Math can be a real beast for me.
Grammar
Dictionary form
beast
IPA
GB/bˈist/
US/bˈist/
Syllables & stress
beast (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (beast)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: beast
- Plural: beasts
Word family
Expressions
beast mode
1/bˈist mˈoʊd/
fixed phrase
slang
Extreme effort and performance
Working or playing with great energy and power.
Examples
- He went into beast mode during the final minutes of the game.
- When she’s in beast mode, nothing can stop her.
beast of burden
1/bˈist əv bˈɚdən/
fixed phrase
Animal used for carrying loads
An animal that carries heavy things for people.
Examples
- Donkeys are common beasts of burden in rural areas.
- The horse was used as a beast of burden on the farm.