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 of beget

• 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

The crux of the story begins with his inaugural visit to a therapist to deal with and unpack his personal and professional problems, which beget panic attacks. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Feb. 2026

Magalon and Santiago link lower budgets to more artistic freedom, which begets better films. —Barry Levitt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026

What links the above is that all were begotten by one man—Andrzej Pągowski, born in 1953. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026

Many couples assume that physical closeness naturally begets emotional closeness, but this is not the case. —Mark Travers, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026

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