beg

[ beg ]

/ bɛg /

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Definition of beg

verb (used with object), begged, beg·ging.

to ask for as a gift, as charity, or as a favor: to beg alms;to beg forgiveness.

to ask (someone) to give or do something; implore: He begged me for mercy.Sit down, I beg you.

to take for granted without basis or justification: a statement that begs the very point we're disputing.

to fail or refuse to come to grips with; avoid; evade: a report that consistently begs the whole problem.

verb (used without object), begged, beg·ging.

to ask alms or charity; live by asking alms.

to ask humbly or earnestly: begging for help;begging to differ.

(of a dog) to sit up, as trained, in a posture of entreaty.

Verb Phrases

beg off, to request or obtain release from an obligation, promise, etc.: He had promised to drive us to the recital but begged off at the last minute.

OTHER WORDS FOR beg

2 entreat, pray, beseech, petition.

See synonyms for beg on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about beg

beg the question,

to assume the truth of the very point raised in a question.
to evade the issue or avoid a direct answer.
to raise the question; inspire one to ask.

See Usage note at the current entry.

go begging, to remain open or available, as a position that is unfilled or an unsold item: The job went begging for lack of qualified applicants.

Origin of beg

First recorded before 900; Middle English beggen, by assimilation from unattested Old English bedican, variant of bedecian “to beg”; compare Gothic bidagwa “beggar”

synonym study for beg

1, 2, 6. Beg and request are used in certain conventional formulas, in the sense of ask. Beg, once a part of many formal expressions used in letter writing, debate, etc., is now used chiefly in such courteous formulas as I beg your pardon; The Committee begs to state, etc. Request, more impersonal and now more formal, is used in giving courteous orders (You are requested to report) and in commercial formulas like to request payment.

historical usage of beg

9. The idiom beg the question is a translation of the Latin rhetorical term petitio principii and its original meaning is “to assume the truth of the very point under discussion.” For example, to answer the question “Can we afford another employee?” by stating how convenient it would be to have another employee would be begging the question. This idiom was then taken to mean “to evade the issue or avoid the question,” a natural assumption if one is unfamiliar with the original meaning. The most recent, and now quite common, sense is “to raise the question”: His success begs the question: what will be his next project? However, the original meaning, having to do with a fallacy of reasoning or argument, is useful and in fact many people favor restricting the phrase to this meaning.

OTHER WORDS FROM beg

half-begging, adjectiveun·begged, adjective

Words nearby beg

before you know it, befoul, befriend, befuddle, befuddled, beg, begad, began, begar, begat, begats

Other definitions for beg (2 of 3)

beg²

[ beyg, beg ]

/ beɪg, bɛg /

noun

bey.

Origin of beg

First recorded in 1680–90; from Ottoman Turkish; see origin at bey

Other definitions for beg (3 of 3)

beg.

abbreviation

begin.

beginning.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use beg in a sentence

If there were ever a time to recreate the tuna noodle casserole you begged for five nights a week as an elementary schooler, that time is now.
The Joy of Cooking Other People’s ‘Secret Family Recipes’|Amy McCarthy|September 11, 2020|Eater
Tired of sales pitches from ed tech providers, one school superintendent in Washington state sent out a tweet begging them to stop.
The Inconvenient Truth About the Ed Tech Boom|Charu Kasturi|September 2, 2020|Ozy
Others are gained by paying, providing content, or begging and pleading.
Nine mistakes to avoid when contacting websites for backlinks|Raj Dosanjh|July 29, 2020|Search Engine Watch
The two had to beg on the streets to be able to get enough to eat, so this was the reason the girls jumped at the chance to get paid jobs in Enugu.
Heartbreaking Story Of Two Survivors Of Nigeria’s ‘Baby Factories’|D. N.|May 6, 2020|No Straight News

I did not have to feel like I was begging and not able to take care of myself, and they helped me build those little bits of confidence.
Fed Up (Ep. 390)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 26, 2019|Freakonomics
You must atone, apologize, and beg forgiveness for the thousands of LGBT lives you have taken.
Do LGBTs Owe Christians an Olive Branch? Try The Other Way Around|Jay Michaelson|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Unlike Axler, Pacino says he has yet to lose his, though many critics would beg to differ.
Al Pacino Does What He Wants to Do: 'The Humbling,' Scorsese, and That 'Scarface' Remake|Alex Suskind|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My Netflix account and, more importantly, my wallet would beg to differ.
Comic-Con’s Year of the Kickass Woman|Kendra Pettis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The premise was simple: sell a brand to the patient and trust that the patient will beg the doctor for the same brand.
New Study Says Doctors Can’t “Just Say No” to Their Patients|Kent Sepkowitz|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is not denying her behavior, and she's unwilling to beg for the public's mercy.
Duke's Freshman Porn Starlet Isn't Ashamed—and She Shouldn't Be|Emily Shire|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They competed for it only in order to get a morsel of food, so they would not have to beg it from door to door.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
Monsieur le Maire,” said he, “I should like to examine the premises, and beg that you will have the kindness to accompany me.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
I beg to trouble you with a few wild ideas of mine, which perhaps may some future day benefit the public.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
I am very much obliged for your continued favours, and beg pardon for so often troubling you.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
I hope you will fully consider this business, and must beg you will have the goodness to write to me by return of post.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick

British Dictionary definitions for beg (1 of 2)

beg¹

/ (bɛɡ) /

verb begs, begging or begged

(when intr , often foll by for) to solicit (for money, food, etc), esp in the street

to ask (someone) for (something or leave to do something) formally, humbly, or earnestlyI beg forgiveness; I beg to differ

(intr) (of a dog) to sit up with forepaws raised expectantly

to leave unanswered or unresolvedto beg a point

beg the question

to evade the issue
to assume the thing under examination as proved
to suggest that a question needs to be askedthe firm's success begs the question: why aren't more companies doing the same?

go begging or go a-begging to be unwanted or unused

Word Origin for beg

C13: probably from Old English bedecian; related to Gothic bidagwa beggar

usage for beg

The use of beg the question to mean that a question needs to be asked is considered by some people to be incorrect

British Dictionary definitions for beg (2 of 2)

beg²

/ (bɛɡ) /

noun

a variant of bey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with beg

beg

In addition to the idioms beginning with beg

beginning of the end, the
begin to see daylight
begin to see the light
begin with
beg off
beg the question
beg to differ

also see:

go begging

beg

Definition of beg

OTHER WORDS FOR beg

Idioms about beg

Origin of beg

synonym study for beg

historical usage of beg

OTHER WORDS FROM beg

Words nearby beg

Other definitions for beg (2 of 3)

Origin of beg

Other definitions for beg (3 of 3)

Words related to beg

How to use beg in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beg (1 of 2)

Word Origin for beg

usage for beg

British Dictionary definitions for beg (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with beg