begbeg /beɡ/ ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle begged, present participle begging) 
She begged and pleaded with them until they finally agreed. She fought back the sudden urge to run to him and beg his forgiveness.beg to do something The children begged to come with us.beg somebody to do something I begged Helen to stay, but she wouldn’t listen.beg (somebody) for something She ran to the nearest house and begged for help. We could hear the prisoners begging for mercy.I beg of you formal (=please) Listen, I beg of you.beg leave to do something formal (=ask permission to do something)► see thesaurus at ask2money/food [intransitive, transitive] to ask people to give you food, money etc, usually because you are very poorbeg (something) from somebody a ragged child begging from passing shoppersbeg for The old man went from door to door begging for food. a begging letter (=a letter asking for money)3animal [intransitive] if a dog begs, it sits up with its front legs off the ground4I beg your pardon spoken a)used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said: ‘The meeting’s on Wednesday.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘I said the meeting’s on Wednesday.’ b)used to say sorry when you have made a mistake, or said something wrong or embarrassing: Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought you said 15 pence, not 50. c)used to show that you strongly disagree with something that someone has said, or think it is unacceptable: ‘Chicago’s an awful place.’ ‘I beg your pardon, that’s where I’m from!’5I beg to differ spoken formal used to say firmly that you do not agree with something that has been said: I must beg to differ on this point.6beg the question a)to make you want to ask a question that has not yet been answeredbeg of This proposal begs the question of who is going to pay for the new building. b)to treat an idea as though it were true or had been proved, when this may not be the case7be going begging British English spoken if something is going begging, it is available for anyone who wants it: There’s a beer going begging, if anyone’s interested.8beg, borrow, or steal to do whatever you must in order to get what you want – often used humorously: She’d beg, borrow, or steal the money for those shoes.
WORD ORIGINbeg
Origin:
1200-1300 Probably from Old English bedecianVERB TABLE
beg
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | beg |
| he, she, it | begs | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | begged |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have begged |
| he, she, it | has begged | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had begged |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will beg |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have begged |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am begging |
| he, she, it | is begging | |
| you, we, they | are begging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was begging |
| you, we, they | were begging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been begging |
| he, she, it | has been begging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been begging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be begging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been begging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- All right, all right, I'll come! Just stop begging.
- Benji, stop begging.
- Chad was begging and pleading.
- Children were begging in the streets.
- He said he wouldn't give me the money unless I got down on my knees and begged him.
- It's the same old story - one night he beats her up, and the next day he begs her for forgiveness.
- Just a few years ago, Tanya was homeless and begging for money in front of the supermarket.
- Sad looking men of all ages beg from tourists at the corner of the square.
- The plan begs the question of whether the development is actually needed.
- The prisoner was in so much pain all he could do was scream and beg for mercy.
- Things got so bad that at one point she thought she'd have to go out and beg.
- We all begged him not to drive in the storm, but he wouldn't listen to us.
- Beppe overhears her plans and when he confronts her, she begs him not to tell Roy.
- He begged for a letter by return.
- He begged his parents for lessons and began piano studies at age five.
- He might as well have gotten down on his hands and knees and begged for it.
- He says that the police were right behind them - he begged his brother to stop.
- Such measures, of course, beg the question in many ways.
THESAURUSto ask for something
to tell someone you want them to give you something: · I’m going to ask for a pay rise.
to ask for food or drink in a restaurant: · We ordered some more coffee.· Have you ordered yet?
to ask for something in a firm way, insisting that someone gives you what you ask for: · They’re demanding immediate payment.· If the goods are faulty, you can demand a refund.
formal to ask for something: · The pilot requested permission to land.· I enclose the information you requested.
to ask for something in an urgent way, because you want it very much and will be very unhappy if you do not get it: · He begged me for some money.· I’m not going to plead for forgiveness.
to keep asking someone for something, in an annoying way: · She keeps nagging me for a new phone.· People were pestering him for his autograph.
Longman Language Activatorto ask strongly for something or for someone to do something to ask for something, or ask someone to do something, in a firm or angry way that shows you expect them to do it: · I demand an explanation for your appalling behaviour.· The laboratory was surrounded by protesters demanding an end to the animal experiments.· The chief demanded a thorough investigation into the murder.demand to do something: · The police officer made Neil get out of the car and demanded to see his driver's licence.demand that: · Just go to the dry cleaners, show them the dress, and demand that they pay for the damage.
to ask for something, or ask someone to do something, in an anxious way that shows you want it very much: · All right, all right, I'll come! Just stop begging.· He said he wouldn't give me the money unless I got down on my knees and begged him.beg (somebody) for something: · The prisoner was in so much pain all he could do was scream and beg for mercy.· It's the same old story - one night he beats her up, and the next day he begs her for forgiveness.beg somebody to do something: · We all begged him not to drive in the storm, but he wouldn't listen to us.
to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way: · "Please forgive me," she pleaded "I'll never do it again."plead for: · The wife of one of the hostages appeared on TV last night to plead for her husband's life.plead with somebody: · Parker pleaded with his supporters in the crowd to remain calm.
to ask strongly and repeatedly for something important such as a change in the law or the rules, because you think it is necessary: · People in the medical profession are pressing for genuine reforms in policy.· The team is pushing for a new stadium to be built downtown.· Women have been pressing for equal rights and pay for years.
if someone, especially a group of people, calls for something such as justice, equality etc they ask for it strongly and publicly because they think an unfair situation needs to be changed: · Amnesty International has consistently called for the release of political prisoners.· The Football Association is likely to call for a ban on alcohol at football games.· Leaders in both parties are calling for changes in campaign finance laws.
if someone, especially an organization in a bad situation, calls on someone to do something, they ask strongly and urgently for that person to do it because their help is needed: call on/upon somebody to do something: · We are calling upon the government to release all political prisoners.· The Secretary called on all Americans to help stop the abuse and neglect of children.call on/upon somebody for something: · The dance company has called on ballet-lovers everywhere for financial support.
to ask for money or food because you do not have any to ask someone for food, cigarettes etc especially because you do not have enough money or would prefer not to pay for them: scrounge something off/from: · Nigel scrounged a drink off us before we left.scrounge something: · We managed to scrounge some cigarettes because we had no money left.scrounge: · When I was a kid I never had enough money for the bus, so I had to scrounge.
British informal to ask someone for something such as food, cigarettes etc because you do not have enough money or would prefer not to pay for them: · Sonia is always cadging lifts home and she never offers any money for petrol.· The two boys moved around the bar, cadging free drinks and cigarettes.
informal to ask someone for something such as food or cigarettes, in a way that annoys or embarrasses people: · I think Steve managed to bum a lift home.bum something off somebody: · He's always bumming drinks off people and it really gets on my nerves.
American informal to ask someone for something such as food or cigarettes in a way that annoys or embarrasses people: mooch something/it/them off: · This old guy was trying to mooch a beer off Dave.mooch off somebody: · He never pays for anything - he'd even mooch off his own mother.
also panhandle American to ask people in the street for money or food because you do not have any: · Things got so bad that at one point she thought she'd have to go out and beg.· He just sits there on the street all day, but he doesn't panhandle.beg for: · Just a few years ago, Tanya was homeless and begging for money in front of the supermarket.beg from: · Sad-looking men of all ages beg from tourists at the corner of the square.
what you say to tell someone that you are sorry spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry that you upset them or caused problems for them; you can also say this as a polite way of excusing yourself for a small mistake: · I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude.· Sorry, did I step on your foot?I'm very/really/terribly sorry: · I'm really sorry, Joanna. I've broken one of your glasses.sorry/I'm sorry (that): · I'm sorry that I shouted at you.· Sorry we're late, Shelley.sorry/I'm sorry about: · Sorry about all the noise.sorry/I'm sorry to do something: · I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to discuss my essay.sorry/I'm sorry for (doing something): · I'm sorry for barging in without ringing the bell.
especially American, spoken say this to tell someone you are sorry because you accidentally touched them or made a small or embarrassing mistake: · Oh, excuse me, is that your bag I just stood on?· Excuse me - I didn't realize there was anyone in here.
formal spoken say this when you make a small mistake and you want to say sorry politely: · "That's my pen." "Oh, I beg your pardon - I thought it was mine.''
also I apologise British say this to apologize in a fairly formal way, for example when you have upset someone or done something wrong or unfair: · You were right and I was wrong. I apologize.· I apologize in advance if anyone's offended by this.I apologize for: · I apologise for writing to you like this, out of the blue.
say this when you have done something that you later find out to be wrong or unfair: · It seems I owe you an apology -- I was supposed to phone you on Saturday night.I owe you an apology for (doing something): · I think I owe you an apology for my behaviour the other night.
say this when you have done something wrong or have upset someone, or when you are going to say or ask something that might seem rude or offensive: · Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you.forgive me for doing something: · Forgive me for asking, but how old are you?· Forgive me for saying this, but you really don't look well at all.
used in formal letters: · Please accept my apologies. I will be taking steps to ensure this does not happen again.please accept my apologies for: · Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience this error has caused.
WORD SETSAfghan, nounAlsatian, nounaviary, nounbark, nounbasset, nounbeagle, nounbedding, nounbeg, verbbow-wow, nounboxer, nounbudgerigar, nounbudgie, nounbull terrier, nounbunny, nouncage, nouncanary, nouncat, nouncat flap, nouncat litter, nouncattery, nounchihuahua, nounchoke chain, nouncollar, nouncollie, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundogcatcher, noundog collar, noundoggy, noundog warden, noundomestic, adjectivedomesticate, verbflea collar, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungolden retriever, noungoldfish, noungoldfish bowl, noungreyhound, nounhound, nounhousebroken, adjectivehouse-trained, adjectivekennel, nounkibble, nounkitten, nounkitty, nounLabrador, nounlap dog, nounlead, nounleash, nounleash, verblitter, nounmaster, nounmastiff, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmoggy, nounmongrel, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounmuzzle, verbOld English sheepdog, nounPekinese, nounPersian cat, nounpet, nounpit bull terrier, nounpooper scooper, nounpuppy, nounpurr, verbpuss, nounpussy, nounsausage dog, nounsheepdog, nounSiamese cat, nounspaniel, nountabby, nounterrier, nountortoiseshell, nountoy, adjectiveunleash, verbwalkies, nounwater, verbwolfhound, nounwoof, interjectionworry, verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She fought back the sudden urge to run to him and beg his forgiveness. She ran to the nearest house and begged for help. We could hear the prisoners begging for mercy. a begging letter (=a letter asking for money)COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He never admitted his guilt or asked for forgiveness.
She fought back the sudden urge to run to him and beg his forgiveness. She ran to the nearest house and begged for help. We could hear the prisoners begging for mercy. formal (=please) Listen, I beg of you.
Listen, I beg of you. formal (=ask permission to do something)
a begging letter (=a letter asking for money) He never admitted his guilt or asked for forgiveness. (=ask in a desperate way for someone's mercy)· She continued the punishment, although they begged for mercy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· One of the last nights, Amelia begged off going to a party and stayed home, so Toot stayed home too.· He begs off from a movie on Saturday.· Could he back out, beg off?· Binyomin asked me to go with him to the soup kitchen, but I begged off even though I was hungry.
NOUN· Mad faces pushed against the grilles in the doors, tortured ones begging for mercy.· Later, during a frightful storm, a princess knocked at the castle door, begging for shelter.· The angel, disguised as an old man, went from door to door begging for food and drink.· Corrigan remembered the people coming up to the stable door and begging food or work.· I carried on knocking on the door and begging to be let in.· He rowed him back however and the convict went to the door to beg for money.· Sometimes a tramp would knock on the back door, begging for food or offering to do a job for a few coppers.
· By now I was extremely hungry, so I used sign language to beg the official for food.· The man is oblivious to his living conditions and the fact his 9-year-old son begs food from the neighborhood grocer.· Gerd suddenly says he is hungry, and begs some food from one or more of the adventurers.· In a village she asks for work without success and then begs for food.· Having given away all her money in Rome, she begged her food, or existed on charitable donations.· Presumably it knew such begging meant food is being served nearby.· When he was released he begged for food at markets by dragging himself along on his knees.· I never begged anyone for food.
· I was too proud to follow him and beg forgiveness.· C., to beg forgiveness for the way black men had mistreated their women and neglected their families.· Confess your unworthy behaviour and beg his honour's forgiveness for all your faults.· Then he humbly begged her forgiveness.· Could Woodhead admit the affair, beg forgiveness and keep his job?· At the end of the play, Derikson receives a letter from Frederica, whom he had thought dead, begging forgiveness.· She fought back the sudden urge to run to him, to fling herself into his arms and beg his forgiveness.· If the evil characters are not punished per se they admit their guilt and often beg forgiveness.
· He might as well have gotten down on his hands and knees and begged for it.
· And anyway I don't want to beg for Edgar's help, or make trouble for him.· Cupid had told him the whole Story and had begged for his help.· I suppose I should have just gone and begged for help but Shallot has his pride.· Rescued by human teens and taken to the vet, Keelk recovers and begs for help to rescue her family.· I hate the sound of people crying in pain, begging for help.· Like his people, the Somalian President can only beg for help.· SHe'd never begged help off anyone before - hadn't needed to.
· The men and women were on their knees, begging the agents and constables not to persist with the evictions.· She has to be careful not to trip over these little kids who press forward at her knees, begging for autographs.· He was on his knees, begging to stay.· She fell on her knees before them and begged them to take her with them.· I actually went on my knees and begged, but he laughed and there me out.· He might as well have gotten down on his hands and knees and begged for it.
· He had another go at persuasion and wrote Adam long letters to his college begging for compromises.· The directive to write a farewell letter of sorts begged several other questions, too.· These letter flattered Brutus and begged him to do something about Rome.
· I wanted to cry, weep and beg the Almighty for mercy.· Leonor has begged mercy for Manrique but the Count refuses.· Mad faces pushed against the grilles in the doors, tortured ones begging for mercy.
· You feel you're begging for money ... Probably it's money that's coming to me because I have paid insurance.· Just a few years ago, Tanya was homeless and begging for money in front of a supermarket in New York City.· At times he was reduced to publishing acrostics in newspapers begging money for his wife and children.· I was homeless and had to beg for money.· Every year people are asked to write in and beg for money.· The number was so huge, books were begging for San Diego money.· At no time has the hospital begged for money for baby heaters.· My fatherless children are alone up in Orkney while I beg for money.
· King: I beg thy pardon, Wapping.· I beg your pardon, Professors.· I am ashamed of it myself, and for this reason I stoop to beg your pardon.
· The question begs: is there, after all these centuries, an absolute best exercise for general fitness?· The question begs other questions and is potentially leading and confusing.
· Never since the first world war have we had homeless teenage children begging in the streets.· I had to beg in the street or go to the neighbors for help.· I have never seen so many unemployed and homeless people begging on the streets of London.· You ought to beg in the streets, not live here in comfort with a gentleman's family.· They are the people begging in our streets.· I hope that gradually we will stop seeing them begging on the streets without any prospects for their future.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► be going beggingPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1ask [intransitive, transitive] to ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very much: - The designers would beg, borrow, or steal in order to get the show ready.
- "And the year of your birth?" "I beg your pardon?" "When were you born?"
- "East Coast people are kind of uptight, aren't they?" "I beg your pardon!"
- "That's my pen." "Oh, I beg your pardon - I thought it was mine.''
- Oh, I beg your pardon. Are you all right?
- Selling some of course. I beg to differ.
- Well having discussed this matter with many typical users of word processors, I beg to differ.
- All this begs the question about the reliability of Mr Dole's gut.
- It begs the question of what pictures will be sacrificed in order to track Sanders.
- It is begging the question just to ask it.
- Plenty of helices are not so stick-like, and of course the argument begs the question of how, rather than why.
- Such measures, of course, beg the question in many ways.
- To say that seems to me really to beg the question.
- To say that sexuality exists in the brain simply begs the question.
- Which rather begs the question-shouldn't there be a governing body that regulates such questionable decisions?
- Selling some of course. I beg to differ.
- Well having discussed this matter with many typical users of word processors, I beg to differ.
- I am ashamed of it myself, and for this reason I stoop to beg your pardon.
- I ask you to pardon me.
- In 1182, he asked formally for pardon, prostrating himself before Barbarossa.
She begged and pleaded with them until they finally agreed. She fought back the sudden urge to run to him and beg his forgiveness.beg to do something The children begged to come with us.beg somebody to do something I begged Helen to stay, but she wouldn’t listen.beg (somebody) for something She ran to the nearest house and begged for help. We could hear the prisoners begging for mercy.I beg of you formal (=please) Listen, I beg of you.beg leave to do something formal (=ask permission to do something)► see thesaurus at ask2money/food [intransitive, transitive] to ask people to give you food, money etc, usually because you are very poorbeg (something) from somebody a ragged child begging from passing shoppersbeg for The old man went from door to door begging for food. a begging letter (=a letter asking for money)3animal [intransitive] if a dog begs, it sits up with its front legs off the ground4I beg your pardon spoken a)used to ask someone to repeat what they have just said: ‘The meeting’s on Wednesday.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ ‘I said the meeting’s on Wednesday.’ b)used to say sorry when you have made a mistake, or said something wrong or embarrassing: Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought you said 15 pence, not 50. c)used to show that you strongly disagree with something that someone has said, or think it is unacceptable: ‘Chicago’s an awful place.’ ‘I beg your pardon, that’s where I’m from!’5I beg to differ spoken formal used to say firmly that you do not agree with something that has been said: I must beg to differ on this point.6beg the question a)to make you want to ask a question that has not yet been answeredbeg of This proposal begs the question of who is going to pay for the new building. b)to treat an idea as though it were true or had been proved, when this may not be the case7be going begging British English spoken if something is going begging, it is available for anyone who wants it: There’s a beer going begging, if anyone’s interested.8beg, borrow, or steal to do whatever you must in order to get what you want – often used humorously: She’d beg, borrow, or steal the money for those shoes.- Ulaanbaatar
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