- 1a very loud repeated noise, such as the sound of something hitting something else hard; the sound or the feeling of your heart beating strongly We were awoken by a pounding at the door. There was a pounding in his head.
- 2an occasion when something is hit hard or attacked and severely damaged synonym battering The boat took a pounding in the gale. (figurative) The team took a pounding (= was badly defeated).
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