First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1beg
verb \ˈbeg\
: to ask people for money or food
: to ask (someone) in a very serious and emotional way for something needed or wanted very much
: to ask for (something needed or wanted very much) in a very serious and emotional way
beggedbeg·ging
Full Definition of BEG
transitive verb
1
: to ask for as a charity
2
a : to ask earnestly for : entreat b : to require as necessary or appropriate
intransitive verb
1
: to ask for alms
2
: to ask earnestly <begged for mercy>
— beg the question
1
: to pass over or ignore a question by assuming it to be established or settled
2
: to elicit a question logically as a reaction or response <the quarterback's injury begs the question of who will start in his place>
See beg defined for English-language learners
See beg defined for kids
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Origin of BEG
Middle English beggen
Related to BEG
- Synonyms
- appeal (to), beseech, besiege, conjure, entreat, impetrate, implore, importune, petition, plead (to), pray, solicit, supplicate, call on (or upon)
Synonym Discussion of BEG
beg, entreat, beseech, implore, supplicate, adjure, importune mean to ask urgently. beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking <they begged for help>. entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance <entreated me to join them>. beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety <I beseech you to have mercy> <implored her not to leave>. supplicate suggests a posture of humility <with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord>. adjure implies advising as well as pleading <we were adjured to tell the truth>. importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance <importuning viewers for donations>.
2beg
abbreviation
Definition of BEG
begin; beginning
BEGGED Defined for Kids
beg
verb \ˈbeg\
beggedbeg·ging
Definition of BEG for Kids
1
: to ask for money, food, or help as charity <beg in the streets>
2
: to ask as a favor in an earnest or polite way : plead
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