Pronunciation: /bɛɡ ðə ˈkwɛstʃən/
noun a logical fallacy in which a statement or claim is assumed to be true without evidence or proof
A1 I don't understand what you mean by 'beg the question'.
A2 The phrase 'beg the question' is often used in debates.
B1 The student's argument seemed to beg the question rather than provide evidence.
B2 The politician's response was cleverly crafted to beg the question and avoid the real issue.
C1 The philosopher's use of 'beg the question' in his thesis sparked a lively debate among scholars.
C2 The lawyer's tactic of begging the question during the trial raised doubts about the validity of the evidence.
verb to assume the truth of an argument or proposition that is yet to be proved
A1 She begged the question by asking if the sky is blue.
A2 The student's question about the homework assignment begged the question of whether it was due tomorrow.
B1 The new evidence presented in the trial begs the question of the defendant's innocence.
B2 The controversial decision by the government begs the question of whether it was made in the best interest of the people.
C1 The research findings beg the question of how reliable the data collection methods were.
C2 The CEO's sudden resignation begs the question of what led to such a drastic decision.
preposition used in the phrase 'beg the question' to indicate the action of assuming something to be true without evidence
A1 I don't understand the math problem, which begs the question of how I will pass the exam.
A2 Her constant lateness begs the question of whether she values our time.
B1 The company's sudden decision to rebrand begs the question of what prompted this change.
B2 His refusal to answer the direct question only begs the question of his guilt.
C1 The new evidence presented in court begs the question of whether the defendant is truly innocent.
C2 The complex nature of quantum physics begs the question of whether we will ever fully understand the universe.
formal The argument presented by the speaker seems to beg the question of whether the data is reliable.
informal I don't mean to beg the question, but are you sure you have all the facts straight?
slang Dude, that totally begs the question - do you even know what you're talking about?
figurative Her actions beg the question of whether she truly values our friendship.
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