beg

1 of 2

verb

ˈbeg 

begged; begging

transitive verb

1

: to ask for as a charity (see charity sense 1a)

begging food from strangers

begged him for some change

2

a

: to ask earnestly for : entreat

beg forgiveness

I beg your pardon.

b

: to require as necessary or appropriate

a scene that begged to be photographed

3

: evade, sidestep

begged the real problems

intransitive verb

1

: to ask for alms

children begging on the streets

2

: to ask earnestly

begged for mercy

see also:

beg the question

beg

2 of 2

abbreviation

begin; beginning

Synonyms of beg

Verb

• petition
• ask
• pray
• implore
• beseech

Choose the Right Synonym for 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 him

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 to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

Examples of beg in a Sentence

Verb

A homeless man begs on that corner every day.

He begged the doctor for medicine.

She begged him to read the story again.

He begged that she would forgive him.

begging a favor of someone

He's too proud to beg.

“Does your dog know any tricks?” “She knows how to beg.”

A scene so beautiful it was begging to be photographed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The lush gardens and private office space provide plenty of scenic options for where to spend your alone time, while the covered patio is practically begging for a dinner party with the entire crew. — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026

The novel, inarguably ambitious in scope, begs questions of form and content, and the possibilities and pitfalls of publishing outside traditional pathways. — Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026

Jurors heard a harrowing voicemail left by Johnson begging one of her friends for help as Williams butchered her, stabbing her five times in the chest and four times in her back. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026

The warm waffle can be filled with matcha, strawberry soft serve or a swirl of both, then dressed up Pocky sticks for a dessert that practically begs for a photo before the first bite. — Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English beggen

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing beg

• beg, borrow, or/and steal
• beg leave
• beg off
• beg one's pardon
• beg pardon
• beg the question
• beg to differ
• I beg your pardon

Rhymes for beg

• clegg
• egg
• keg
• leg
• legg
• meg
• neg
• peg
• reg
• blackleg
• bootleg
• foreleg

Kids Definition

beg

verb

ˈbeg

begged; begging

1

: to ask for money, food, or help as charity

beg in the streets

2

: to ask earnestly or politely

beg a favor

beg pardon