begone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowArchaic, Literary, Poetic, Humorously Ironic
Quick answer
What does “begone” mean?
A strong, archaic, or poetic command meaning 'go away', 'be off', or 'depart'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong, archaic, or poetic command meaning 'go away', 'be off', or 'depart'.
Used as an exclamation or imperative to dismiss someone or something forcefully, often connoting annoyance, anger, or a desire to banish.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or use. Equally archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes Shakespearean English, Gothic literature, or playful mock-seriousness.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both regions. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British literature due to the preservation of older texts in education.
Grammar
How to Use “begone” in a Sentence
Imperative (exclamation): 'Begone!'Imperative + with + NP: 'Begone with you!'Imperative + from + NP: 'Begone from my sight!'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “begone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Begone, you blighter!' the colonel roared.
- 'I say, begone from the garden,' the vicar said, waving his cane.
American English
- 'Begone, pest!' yelled the farmer at the raccoon.
- 'Just begone with all that nonsense,' she said, rolling her eyes.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in literary analysis of historical texts.
Everyday
Only in jest or very affected speech.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “begone”
- Using it as a non-imperative (e.g., 'He told him to begone' is acceptable but archaic; 'He begone yesterday' is incorrect).
- Using it in modern, neutral contexts where 'go away' is intended seriously.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never in serious, everyday conversation. Its primary use today is for dramatic, literary, humorous, or ironic effect.
No. 'Begone' is a frozen imperative form. It cannot be conjugated. You cannot say 'he begones' or 'they are begoning'.
'Begone' is archaic, more forceful, and theatrical. 'Go away' is the standard modern neutral-to-forceful command. 'Begone' carries a connotation of banishment or dealing with something evil or pest-like.
In its original, serious use, yes, it is a strong and dismissive command. In modern humorous use among friends, it's not genuinely rude but playfully emphatic.
A strong, archaic, or poetic command meaning 'go away', 'be off', or 'depart'.
Begone is usually archaic, literary, poetic, humorously ironic in register.
Begone: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡɒn/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡɔːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Begone dull care (from a 17th-century song title)”
- “Begone, foul fiend!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a knight in armour pointing and shouting 'BE GONE!' which over time got squished into BEGONE.
Conceptual Metaphor
BANISHMENT IS PHYSICAL REMOVAL / UNWANTED ENTITIES ARE VERMIN TO BE DRIVEN OFF.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'begone' be LEAST appropriate?