Definition

1. Verb:
   • To ask for something, especially money or food, in a humble or desperate way: To make a request as a charity or due to need.
   • To ask earnestly or humbly for something: To make a serious and often emotional request for a favor, help, or forgiveness.
   • To evade or avoid answering a question: To assume the truth of the very point being argued, often in a logical fallacy.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • He had to beg for money on the street to survive.
  • I beg you to reconsider your decision.
  • The politician's argument simply begged the question instead of providing evidence.

Advanced Usage

• "to beg the question": To assume the conclusion of an argument as a premise; to avoid giving a direct answer.
  • Saying we need a new leader because the current one is ineffective just begs the question of what makes him ineffective.
• "to beg off": To ask to be excused from an obligation or invitation.
  • She had to beg off from the dinner party due to a sudden headache.
• "to beg pardon": To ask for forgiveness or to excuse oneself.
  • I beg your pardon, I didn't mean to interrupt.

Variants and Related Words

• Beggar (n): A person who lives by asking for money or food.
  • The beggar sat on the corner with a sign.
• Begging (n): The act of asking for something as charity.
  • The city has laws against public begging.

Synonyms

• Plead: To make an emotional appeal.
• Implore: To beg earnestly or desperately.
• Solicit: To ask for or try to obtain something from someone.
• Beseech: To ask someone urgently and fervently to do something.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Beg for: To ask desperately for something specific.
  • The refugees were begging for food and water.
• Beg from: To ask for charity from a particular person or group.
  • He was too proud to beg from his relatives.

Related Idioms

• Go begging: To be unwanted or remain available.
  • If these tickets go begging, you can have one.
• Beg, borrow, or steal: To obtain something by any means necessary.
  • I'll beg, borrow, or steal to get the money for this project.
• I beg to differ: A polite way to say you disagree.
  • I beg to differ; I believe the data supports the opposite conclusion.

Verb

1. dodge, avoid answering, or take for granted
   • beg the question
   • beg the point in the discussion
2. ask to obtain free
   • beg money and food
3. make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently
   • Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
   • My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
4. call upon in supplication; entreat
   • I beg you to stop!