WordGarden.iocheat
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /tʃˈiːt/
US
- /ˈtʃit/
Meanings
Verb
to break rules or act dishonestly to gain an advantage
to be sexually or romantically unfaithful to a partner
to deceive or defraud someone, especially to take money or something owed
More meaningsFewer meanings
to narrowly avoid something bad that seemed likely
Noun
a person who cheats or behaves dishonestly
a trick, shortcut, or code that bypasses normal rules, especially in a video game
Beyond the definition
To cheat means to act dishonestly in order to gain an advantage. It's like taking a secret shortcut that isn't fair to others. You might cheat on a test by looking at someone else's answers, or a player might cheat in a game by bending the rules. But cheating doesn't always involve tests or games: you can also cheat someone by deceiving them, especially to get money or avoid what you owe. And someone who is unfaithful to their partner is also said to cheat. The act of cheating often involves secrecy and a betrayal of trust. Essentially, it is the choice to break a "rule of the game," whether those rules are written on paper or implied by a relationship.
The word "cheat" carries a weight of dishonesty and unfairness. At its core, it means to deceive someone or violate established rules to gain an advantage. This can manifest in many ways. The most common image is cheating on a test—secretly glancing at another student's paper or using forbidden notes (sometimes called a "cheat sheet"). However, the concept extends far beyond academics.
In games and sports, to cheat means to ignore the rules to give yourself an unfair edge over your opponents. In business, a dishonest salesperson might cheat customers by misrepresenting products or overcharging. In personal relationships, "cheating" refers to being unfaithful—breaking a promise of exclusivity and trust with a partner.
Interestingly, "cheat" can also describe something that deceives through appearance: a clever illusion or a trompe l'oeil painting can cheat the eye. You might also hear that someone was "cheated out of" an inheritance, meaning they were dishonestly deprived of something that was rightfully theirs. As a noun, a cheat can mean a person who cheats ("Don't trust him—he's a cheat") or a dishonest act itself.
The act of cheating always involves an element of secrecy and a disregard for fairness. It is about taking something that wasn't rightfully earned, whether it's a high grade, a sports trophy, or the trust of a loved one. While a "cheat code" in a video game might be harmless fun, cheating in real life often damages relationships and erodes a person's integrity.
Examples
- 1
Exam
He was caught cheating on the final exam.
- 2
Card games
She always accuses her brother of cheating at cards.
- 3
Relationships
I could never trust someone who cheats on their partner.
- Patterncheat on someone
secretly have a romantic or sexual relationship with another person
- 4
Hidden fees
Some companies cheat customers by hiding extra fees.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Scams
They cheated her out of her savings with a fake investment plan.
- Patterncheat someone out of + money/possession
trick someone so they lose it
- 6
Unfair deal
After paying full price for that tiny meal, I felt cheated.
- Phrasefeel cheated
feel that something was unfair or not worth what you gave
- 7
Dishonest person
No one wanted to play with him anymore because he's a cheat.
- 8
Near death
The doctors said he was lucky to cheat death after the accident.
- Phrasecheat death
escape from a situation that could have killed you
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- plagiarize
- rig
- cut corners
Contrast
- play fair
- be honest
Used with (collocations)
- cheat on a test
- cheat at cards
- cheat someone out of money
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- cheatnounverb
Forms
- cheating-ing formverbnoun
- cheatedpast tenseverbnoun
- cheatspluralnounverb