The term 'BEAT, BUT BARELY' can be represented by four different crossword solutions: EDGE (4 letters), EDGED (5 letters), EDGEDOUT (8 letters), and WINBYANOSE (10 letters). EDGE is a verb meaning to surpass or outdo someone or something. EDGED is the past tense of EDGE, meaning to have surpassed or outdone someone or something. EDGEDOUT is an adjective meaning to have been barely beaten or outdone. WINBYANOSE is an idiom meaning to win by a very small margin. All of these words and phrases describe the same concept: to have won, but only just barely.