begging

begging — noun

1. the activity of asking people in public places for money, food, or other help be

1.nounB1
Definition

the activity of asking people in public places for money, food, or other help because you are very poor and have no other way to get what you need.

Example

Beatriz and her children were forced into begging after the earthquake destroyed their home.

passive: be forced into begging

The city council passed a law that made begging near the train station illegal.

collocation: make + [noun] + illegal

Common collocations
  • begging on the streets
  • begging for money
  • begging from passers-by
  • be forced into begging
  • turn to begging
  • be reduced to begging
  • survive by begging
  • live by begging
  • go begging
Synonyms
  • panhandling

    used mainly in US English, slightly less formal; refers specifically to asking for money on the street

  • soliciting

    more formal and broader; can refer to requesting donations for a charity or organisation, not only personal need

Antonyms
  • giving

    the opposite action — offering money or help rather than asking for it

  • charity

    the organised giving of money or goods to people in need, as opposed to individual asking

Usage Note

Uncountable in general use; you cannot say 'a begging' or 'beggings'. Frequently used in phrases describing a cause or consequence: 'forced into begging', 'turned to begging', 'reduced to begging'.

Common Mistakes

She went begging for his approval at work.
She went begging for money after she lost her job.
'begging' in its literal sense means asking strangers for money because you are poor, not asking for a non-material favour.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe the act of asking other people for money or help, but they differ in register and scope. Begging is the most general and neutral term — it can refer to asking on the street or at a doorway, and the person asking is usually in serious need. Panhandling is an informal term used mainly in US English, focusing on the specific act of asking strangers for spare change in a public place; it often carries a slightly negative or dismissive tone. Soliciting is more formal and has a broader meaning: it can refer to asking for charity donations, business, or even votes — not only for personal survival. For example, a homeless person begs for food, a street performer may also be seen as panhandling if they simply ask for money, while a charity volunteer solicits donations for a cause.

begging ↗panhandlingsoliciting

Common collocations

Nouns

  • begging bowl
  • begging letter
  • begging permit

Phrases

  • be reduced to begging
  • turn to begging
  • go begging
  • live by begging

Prepositions

  • begging for
  • begging from
  • begging on

Etymology

Anglo-FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Begging is the gerund (verbal noun) form of the verb beg. The verb beg dates back to Middle English beggen, which may come from Anglo-French begger, itself derived from begart — a term for members of a lay religious order who lived by asking for charity. The word gradually shifted from describing a specific group of religious mendicants to the general act of asking for help or money.