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beg Meaning & Definition

ˈbeg

What Does Beg Mean?

Beg is a verb that means to ask for as a charity see charity. It is also used to mean to ask earnestly for. As an abbreviation, it means begin; beginning.

Beg at a Glance

Part of speechverb, abbreviation
Pronunciation/ˈbeg/
Synonymsimplore, solicit and pray
Antonymshint, imply and intimate

Beg Definition (Verb)

  1. to ask for as a charity see charity

    begging food from strangers / begged him for some change

  2. to ask earnestly for : entreat

    beg forgiveness / I beg your pardon.

  3. to require as necessary or appropriate

    a scene that begged to be photographed

  4. evade, sidestep

    begged the real problems

  5. to ask for alms

    children begging on the streets

  6. to ask earnestly

    begged for mercy

Beg as an Abbreviation

  1. begin; beginning

Synonyms of Beg

Beg synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Beg

Beg in a Sentence

He begged on the street corner from passers-by.

He begged her to go to the prom with him.

What was the beginning of the dispute?

That house is at the beginning of the street.

begging food from strangers

begged him for some change

beg forgiveness

I beg your pardon.

a scene that begged to be photographed

begged the real problems

children begging on the streets

begged for mercy

she begged her husband to give up extreme skiing

begging food from strangers / begged him for some change

beg forgiveness / I beg your pardon.

Word Forms & Grammar

begged

beg·ging

beg

begging

begs

beg the question

Words That Rhyme With Beg

Origin of Beg

Middle English beggen

First Known Use

13th centuryt

Beg: Your Questions Answered

Is beg a verb or an abbreviation?

Beg is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as an abbreviation.

What is another word for beg?

Close synonyms of beg are implore, solicit and pray. See the full list of beg synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of beg?

The opposite of beg can be expressed with words like hint, imply, intimate and suggest.

Merriam-WebsterReference content from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate® Dictionary and Collegiate® Thesaurus © Merriam-Webster Inc.Data credits & licensing