Definition of beget in English:

verbbegets, begetting, begot, begat, begotten

• 1(especially of a man) bring (a child) into existence by the process of reproduction.

  ‘they hoped that the King might beget an heir by his new queen’

  More example sentences

  • ‘All children are from the same mother, as our stepmother did not beget any children by my father.’
  • ‘Apart from other things, she too begets children by someone other than her husband.’
  • ‘A man marries in order to establish a household and beget children.’
  • ‘Any child begotten by Ian or myself would certainly never be recognized… even though I don't think I could have turned away a child of my blood.’
  • ‘They begot seven children.’

  Synonyms

  father, sire, engender, generate, spawn, create, give life to, bring into being, bring into the world, have

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• 2Cause; bring about.

  ‘killings beget more killings’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Words shape thought, stir feeling, and beget action; they kill and revive, corrupt and cure.’
  • ‘Every action should produce results: good action produces good results and evil begets nothing but evil.’
  • ‘Such collaborative relationships will soon beget new inspirations.’
  • ‘He said violence begets violence and evil generates greater evil.’
  • ‘It is a real and sad reminder that violence begets violence and that rarely does violence breed peace.’

  Synonyms

  cause, give rise to, lead to, result in, bring about, create, produce, generate, engender, spawn, occasion, effect, bring to pass, bring on, precipitate, prompt, provoke, kindle, trigger, spark off, touch off, stir up, whip up, induce, inspire, promote, foster

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