beget
7 synonyms for beget, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To father a child, or more broadly, to be the cause or origin of something.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
engender
bring forth
How to use beget
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
beget a child
violence begets violence
success begets success
Fairly formal or literary today, apart from the common saying "X begets Y."
Etymology
From Old English beġietan ("to get"), from a Germanic root meaning to find or seize; the be- prefix intensifies the plain verb "get."
Full origin of beget →Frequently asked questions
What does “beget” mean?
The word “beget” means to father a child, or more broadly, to be the cause or origin of something. In plain terms, to cause something to exist or happen, or (in old usage) to father a child.
How do you pronounce “beget”?
“Beget” is pronounced bee-GEHT (/biˈɡɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “beget” in a sentence?
Here is “beget” used in a sentence: “Violence often begets more violence.”
What part of speech is “beget”?
“Beget” is a verb.
Where does the word “beget” come from?
The word “beget” comes from Old English. From Old English beġietan ("to get"), from a Germanic root meaning to find or seize; the be- prefix intensifies the plain verb "get.".
