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

Good will begets good will, and respect begets respect. —Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025

The result is an inequitable cycle where wealth begets opportunity and opportunity begets more wealth — leaving others trapped in debt and diminished prospects. —Aisha Nyandoro, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Yet, that controversy also begot Blu’s Hanging, as inextricably as the chicken, the egg. —Erin Khuê Ninh june 17, Literary Hub, 17 June 2025

It is envisioned as a type of intelligence explosion, whereby intelligence rapidly begets more intelligence. —Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 12 June 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