beget

verb

be·​get bi-ˈget How to pronounce beget (audio)
bē-
begot bi-ˈgät How to pronounce beget (audio)
bē-
 also begat bi-ˈgat How to pronounce beget (audio)
bē-
 ; begotten bi-ˈgä-tᵊn How to pronounce beget (audio)
bē-
 or begot; begetting
Synonyms of beget

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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The event might beget an ecological collapse or perhaps a mass extinction event. — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Non-consensually posted intimate images can devastate women – and beget male bonding. — Brittany Luse, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026 The stock market crashed in 1929, begetting federal securities regulations including the creation of the Securities and Exchange Commission — in 1934. — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Clandestine action begets retribution, which begets chaos — the only status quo Central Intelligence has ever known. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beget

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beget was in the 13th century

Rhymes for beget

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Browse Nearby Words

begem
beget
be/get carried away
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Cite this Entry

“Beget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beget. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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