To violate rules in order to gain advantage from a situation.
"The player was disqualified after he cheated by looking at his opponent's cards during the match."
In plain English: To cheat is to lie or break the rules on purpose to get an unfair advantage over others.
"He cheated on his test by looking at his notes during the exam."
Usage: Use this verb when someone breaks established rules or agreements to secure an unfair benefit, such as using hidden answers during a test. It often implies deception rather than simply making mistakes or playing poorly within the bounds of fair competition.
Example Sentences
"He cheated on his test by looking at his notes during the exam."verb
"I need to cheat on my math homework because I didn't study for the test."verb
"He tries to cheat at cards by peeking at his opponent's hand."verb
"Don't try to cheat your way through this workout; you will only get hurt."verb
The word "cheat" comes from the Old French verb escheoiter, which originally meant to deceive or trick someone. It entered Middle English as a variant of escheten and eventually replaced an earlier native Germanic term, beswīkan.