beg Definition
- 1ask someone earnestly or humbly for something
- 2live by asking for money or food
Using beg: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "beg" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He begged her to stay.
Example
I beg your pardon.
Example
The homeless man begs for money on the street corner.
Example
She begged for forgiveness.
beg Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using beg
beggar belief
be too extraordinary or impossible to believe
Example
The level of corruption in the government beggars belief.
Example
I had no money, so I had to beg, steal, or borrow to pay for the trip.
Example
You're begging the issue by focusing on that minor detail.
Phrases with beg
Example
I'm going to have to beg off from the dinner party tonight.
assume the truth of an argument without providing evidence; evade a question by assuming the answer
Example
Your argument begs the question of whether or not we can trust the data.
Example
I beg to differ with your assessment of the situation.
Origins of beg
from Old English 'bedecian', meaning 'to ask for, beg'
Summary: beg in Brief
The verb 'beg' [bɛɡ] means to earnestly or humbly ask for something, or to live by asking for money or food. It can be used in phrases like 'beg off,' meaning to ask to be excused from something, and idioms like 'beggar belief,' which means to be too extraordinary to believe. 'Beg' also has a formal equivalent in 'solicit' and 'entreat.'