DictionaryAI

beget

verb
bi-GET/biˈɡɛt/

Formsbegets, begetting, begot, begotten

4 meanings of beget

Practice

  1. 1
    father a childverbliterarytransitive
    To be the parent who brings a child into being, especially the father.

    The old king hoped to beget a son who would rule after him.

    In the old story, the king begot a son late in his life.

    UsagePast forms: begot and begotten. Old Bible English uses begat.

    Similarfather, sire

    Note
  2. 2
    causeverbliterarytransitive
    To cause something to happen or to make it exist.

    Small lies can beget much bigger lies later on.

    In this town, money begets more money.

    UsageOften used like this: violence begets violence, money begets money.

    Similarbreed

    Note
  3. 3
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To get something, or to come to have it.
    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    verbdialectalUK
    To happen to someone or something.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English beġietan, meaning "to get", made from be- + get.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts