beget

verb

be·​get bi-ˈget 

bē-

begot bi-ˈgät 

bē-

also begat bi-ˈgat 

bē-

; begotten bi-ˈgä-tᵊn 

bē-

or begot; begetting

transitive verb

1

: to procreate as the father : sire

He died without begetting an heir.

2

: to produce especially as an effect or outgrowth

Violence only begets more violence.

begetter noun

Synonyms

• create
• cause
• generate
• bring
• produce
• prompt
• do
• spawn

Examples of beget in a Sentence

He died without begetting an heir.

one change in the natural environment will beget others

Recent Examples on the Web

And like with other Southern stalwarts (think sweet tea and fried chicken), where a taste undoubtedly leads to seconds, one trip to the Smokies always begets a return visit. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2025

Thinking creatures sought out the uranium, coaxed it to beget plutonium, and taught a dead star how to scream out against humanity—twice. —Charles Pellegrino, Deadline, 31 July 2025

And in the oil market, low prices today tend to beget higher prices tomorrow, after producers pull back and the supply falls below demand again. —Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 June 2025

Another thing that has stayed the same, much to fans’ emotional detriment, is Wiegman’s preference to make substitutions as late as feasibly possible, yet all the while begetting the same inexpressible result. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 27 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English begeten, beyeten, going back to Old English begietan "to get, beget," from be- be- + gietan "to get entry 1"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beget

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette
• cadet

Kids Definition

beget

verb

be·​get bi-ˈget 

begot -ˈgät  also begat -ˈgat  ; begotten -ˈgät-ᵊn  or begot; begetting

1

: to become the father of

2

: cause entry 2

begetter noun