beg off

verb

begged off; begging off; begs off

intransitive verb

: to ask to be excused from something

transitive verb

: to ask or gain permission to be excused from
begged off attending the party
beg-off noun

Examples of beg off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But he’s begged off twice already, so Justin has to report for potential selection at the courthouse in downtown Savannah, Georgia. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2024 Harden, who has begged off his past three teams, just signed a lucrative two-year, $70 million new deal to stay with the Clippers. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 Yas begs off, making jokes at Henry’s expense throughout the conversation. Nina Li Coomes, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024 Here Larry has begged off a social engagement with his dentist, Dr. Blore (David Pasquesi), by lying about an out-of-town trip. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024 Even professionals have to beg off leading a ceremony from time to time. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2023 But begging off the drugs entirely — that was a new venture. Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2023 When the producers of this podcast reached out to various celebrities to host the show, every single one begged off for fear that they, too, might be banned from Madison Square Garden. Time, 16 June 2023 On a particularly sodden late spring morning in 2006, Emma begged off school for the day. Beatrice Hazlehurst, ELLE, 26 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of beg off was in 1788

Dictionary Entries Near beg off

Cite this Entry

“Beg off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beg%20off. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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