begat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Archaic, Literary, Biblical
Quick answer
What does “begat” mean?
(Archaic) was the father of.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(Archaic) was the father of; gave birth to; produced.
To have been the direct cause or originator of something; to have generated a subsequent person, thing, or state.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more likely to be recognized in American contexts due to the influence of the King James Bible.
Connotations
Strongly associated with the genealogies in the Bible (King James Version). Also used humorously or ironically to mock pretentious or old-fashioned language.
Frequency
Extremely low in everyday speech in both varieties, primarily confined to religious, literary, or jocular contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “begat” in a Sentence
[Noun/Pronoun] begat [Noun/Direct Object][Event/Condition] begat [Result/Consequence]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “begat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Abraham begat Isaac.
- The post-war reforms begat the modern welfare state.
- A minor trade dispute begat a full-blown economic war.
American English
- Adam begat Seth.
- The stock market crash begat the Great Depression.
- That one typo begat a whole series of administrative errors.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Could be used metaphorically in corporate storytelling: 'The founder's simple idea begat a global empire.'
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or philosophical texts discussing causality or lineage.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Use would be for humorous, dramatic, or ironic effect.
Technical
Not used in standard technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “begat”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “begat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “begat”
- Using it as a present tense verb (incorrect: 'He begat a son last year' - correct: 'He *begot* a son').
- Confusing it with 'begotten' (past participle).
- Overusing it in modern, informal contexts where it sounds unnatural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The present tense is 'beget.' However, 'beget' is also archaic. Modern equivalents are 'father,' 'sire,' 'create,' or 'produce.'
It is almost never used in spoken or informal written English, except for deliberate stylistic, humorous, or religious effect. It is considered archaic.
'Begat' is the simple past tense ('he begat'). 'Begotten' is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs ('he has begotten,' 'it was begotten').
Yes, metaphorically. It is often used to describe how one event, idea, or situation directly caused or led to another (e.g., 'War begat famine.').
(Archaic) was the father of.
Begat is usually archaic, literary, biblical in register.
Begat: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡat/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡæt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “... and so he begat a legend.”
- “... a lie which begat a thousand rumours.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BE' + 'GAT' (like 'cat'). The cat that BEGAT all the kittens.
Conceptual Metaphor
LINEAGE IS A CHAIN OF CREATION (each link begets the next).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would the word 'begat' be LEAST appropriate?