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Meaning & use

beta version of something

noun·Advancedcomputing

Last updated

UK/ˈbiːtə ˌvɜːʃən əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
US/ˈbeɪtə ˌvɝːʒən əv ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablecomputing

    An early release of a piece of software that is mostly finished but still being tested by users.

    Grammar: Countable: you can say a beta version, the beta version, or beta versions.

    Patterns

    • a beta version of something
    • release a beta version of something
    • test the beta version of something

    The company put a beta version of its photo editor online so people could try it early.

    She installed the beta version of the game and reported every crash she found.

    A beta version of the app is free to download, but it may still lose your data.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    Any early, not-yet-final form of a product, plan, or idea that is shown to people for feedback.

    Grammar: Used figuratively and countable; often followed by 'of'.

    Patterns

    • a beta version of something
    • an early beta version of something

    The committee saw a beta version of the new timetable and suggested changes.

    Think of this draft as a beta version of the report, not the final one.

Word forms

pluralbeta versions of something

Common combinations

release a beta version
They released a beta version to a few thousand volunteers.
public beta version
The public beta version is open to anyone with an account.
beta version of the app
The beta version of the app crashes on older phones.
download the beta version
You can download the beta version from the developer's site.
test a beta version
Students were asked to test a beta version and give feedback.

Synonyms and how they differ

test version
A plainer, more general term; it does not tell you the product is nearly finished the way 'beta version' does.
preview
A preview is shown to let people see what is coming, while a beta version is usually released so users can hunt for bugs.
trial version
A trial version is often a limited free sample of finished software, not an unfinished build being tested.

Opposites

final versionofficial release

Word family

beta noun
The testing stage itself, or a product in that stage: the software is still in beta.
beta test noun
The period or activity of testing a nearly finished product with real users.
beta tester noun
A person who tries a beta version and reports problems.
alpha version noun
An even earlier build, tested inside the company before the beta stage.

Commonly confused: beta version of something or demo? beta version of something or trial version?

beta version of something vs demo

A demo is a small sample that shows what software can do; a beta version is a full, working build that is still being fixed.

beta version of something vs trial version

A trial version is usually complete software limited by time or features, whereas a beta version is unfinished and given out for testing.

Practice

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