beg

/bɛg/

/bɛg/

Other forms: begged; begging; begs

To beg is to ask for something in an earnest, pleading way. You might beg your roommates to be quiet if you're desperately trying to get some sleep.

You can beg your parents to let you go to a concert with your friends, and you can beg your sister for forgiveness after you inadvertently hurt her feelings. In either case, you are imploring, asking sincerely for something you want. Many dogs are skilled at this, and will beg by sitting beside you while you eat, looking adorable. Another way to beg is to ask for desperately needed charity — to solicit money or food from strangers.

Definitions of beg

1. verb

   make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
   synonyms: solicit, tap

   types:

   quest

   seek alms, as for religious purposes

   canvass

   solicit votes from potential voters in an electoral campaign

   buttonhole, lobby

   detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors

   circularise, circularize

   canvass by using a questionnaire

   type of:

   bespeak, call for, quest, request

   express the need or desire for; ask for
2. verb

   ask to obtain free
   “beg money and food”

   types:

   cadge, schnorr, scrounge, shnorr

   obtain or seek to obtain by cadging or wheedling

   panhandle

   beg by accosting people in the street and asking for money

   type of:

   bespeak, call for, quest, request

   express the need or desire for; ask for
3. verb

   call upon in supplication; entreat
   “I beg you to stop!”

   synonyms: implore, pray

   types:

   crave

   plead or ask for earnestly

   supplicate

   ask humbly (for something)

   importune, insist

   beg persistently and urgently

   besiege

   harass, as with questions or requests

   type of:

   plead

   appeal or request earnestly
4. verb

   dodge, avoid answering, or take for granted
   “beg the question”

   “beg the point in the discussion”

   synonyms: beg the question

   type of:

   circumvent, dodge, duck, elude, evade, fudge, hedge, parry, put off, sidestep, skirt

   avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)