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

• breed
• bring
• bring about
• bring on
• catalyze
• cause
• create
• do
• draw on
• effect
• effectuate
• engender
• generate
• induce
• invoke
• make
• occasion
• produce
• prompt
• result (in)
• spawn
• translate (into)
• work
• yield

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 remake’s emphasis on believability comes with a host of simplistic morals, such as how hard work begets dignity, righteous people will experience setbacks but never go unrewarded, and true love wins in the end. —Elle Carroll, Vulture, 24 Dec. 2024

Veneration doesn’t necessarily beget clichés, but Perry’s passion for the generic knows no bounds. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024

The answer, in both cases, is that compassion seems to beget compassion. —Sigal Samuel, Vox, 3 Dec. 2024

When subs enter the huddle, Barkley’s belief begets more belief. —Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 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

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