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

: to ask for as a charity

a : to ask earnestly for : entreat

b : to require as necessary or appropriate

: evade, sidestep <begged the real problems>

intransitive verb

: to ask for alms

: to ask earnestly <begged for mercy>

— beg the question

: to pass over or ignore a question by assuming it to be established or settled

: to elicit a question logically as a reaction or response <the quarterback's injury begs the question of who will start in his place>

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Origin of BEG

Middle English beggen

First Known Use: 13th century

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>.