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

One of the oldest progenitors of the style, the eatery was founded by Patsy Lancieri in 1933, and later begat other New York icons like Grimaldi’s and helped spawn a New York pizza renaissance that’s still very much alive. —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024

In each area like Vatican City, one mission begets another, and then another, as unlocking the map and gaining money to purchases tourist pamphlets opens even more to do, with dozens of relics, books, and junk to collect as side quests. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 Dec. 2024

Little discoveries would beget bigger revelations that would become key moments in the script, a scavenger hunt of cinematic research. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Dec. 2024

Yet that begat one of the greatest turnarounds in league history, which started with the hiring of Will Kuntz as senior vice-president of player personnel. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

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