Grovel vs. Beg — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 30, 2024
Grovel involves showing submission or fear through actions, like kneeling, while begging refers to earnestly asking for something.
Difference Between Grovel and Beg
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Groveling is often associated with a physical display of submission or deference, such as kneeling or lying down. Whereas begging involves the verbal act of pleading or requesting, usually without any specific physical posture.
Individuals grovel to express extreme submission or fear, often in a context where they feel powerless or desperate. On the other hand, people beg primarily to request something they need or desire, like money or help, without necessarily showing submission.
Groveling can be seen as a more extreme and sometimes humiliating act, meant to appeal to someone’s mercy by showing one's lowliness. Whereas begging is generally less about self-abasement and more about expressing a need or want directly.
The context of groveling is typically more emotionally charged, often involving a power imbalance where one person seeks forgiveness or mercy. On the other hand, begging can occur in a variety of situations, not always involving a power dynamic, such as begging a friend to join a trip.
Groveling might not always involve a verbal component; it can be purely physical. In contrast, begging almost always involves speaking or writing to express the plea.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
Showing submission through actions like kneeling
Earnestly asking for something
Physical Posture
Often involves kneeling or lying down
No specific posture required
Emotional Connotation
Associated with fear and submission
Focuses on need or desire
Context
Power imbalance, seeking mercy
Can occur in various situations
Verbal Component
Can be non-verbal
Primarily verbal
Compare with Definitions
Grovel
Behave in a servile or desperate manner.
They groveled to get the tickets to the show.
Beg
Request earnestly for aid or mercy.
Refugees begged for help from the international community.
Grovel
Debase oneself to gain favor.
He groveled to his boss for a promotion.
Beg
Ask for something earnestly or humbly.
She begged for another chance to prove herself.
Grovel
Displaying fear through submissive behavior.
The suspect groveled when confronted by the police.
Beg
Solicit alms or charity.
He stood on the corner and begged for change.
Grovel
Showing excessive humility or respect under duress.
Under threat, she groveled to keep her job.
Beg
Entreat or implore someone.
He begged his friend to stay longer.
Grovel
Act of lying face downward in a sign of submission.
He groveled at their feet, hoping for forgiveness.
Beg
Plead with someone to do or not do something.
They begged him to disclose the secret.
Grovel
To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.
Beg
To ask (someone) for something in an urgent or humble manner
Begged me for help.
Begged me to give him the phone number.
Grovel
To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
Beg
To ask for (something) in an urgent or humble manner
Beg someone's forgiveness.
Beg a favor.
Grovel
To give oneself over to base pleasures
"Have we not groveled here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?" (Walt Whitman).
Beg
To ask for (food or money, for instance) as a beggar.
Grovel
(intransitive) To be prone on the ground.
Beg
To ask (permission) to do something
Begged leave to attend the ceremony.
Grovel
(intransitive) To crawl.
Beg
To evade; dodge
A speech that begged the real issues.
Grovel
(intransitive) To abase oneself before another person.
Beg
To take for granted without proof
Beg the point in a dispute.
Grovel
(intransitive) To be slavishly nice to someone or apologize in the hope of securing something.
Beg
To ask for something, especially money or food from strangers, in an urgent or humble manner.
Grovel
(intransitive) To take pleasure in mundane activities. en
Beg
To live as a beggar.
Grovel
To creep on the earth, or with the face to the ground; to lie prone, or move uneasily with the body prostrate on the earth; to lie flat on one's belly, expressive of abjectness; to crawl.
To creep and grovel on the ground.
Beg
To make an urgent or humble plea
Beg for mercy.
Grovel
To tend toward, or delight in, what is sensual or base; to be low, abject, or mean.
Beg
(intransitive) To request the help of someone, often in the form of money.
He begged on the street corner from passers-by.
Grovel
Show submission or fear
Beg
(transitive) To plead with someone for help, a favor, etc.; to entreat.
I beg your pardon. I didn’t mean to cause offence.
He begged her to go to the prom with him.
Beg
(transitive) To unwillingly provoke a negative, often violent, reaction.
Beg
(transitive) In the phrase beg the question: to assume.
Beg
In the phrase beg the question: to raise (a question).
Set aside
Beg
To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a guardian appointed for.
Beg
The act of begging; an imploring request.
Beg
A provincial governor under the Ottoman Empire; a bey.
Beg
A title of honor in Turkey and in some other parts of the East; a bey.
Beg
To ask earnestly for; to entreat or supplicate for; to beseech.
I do beg your good will in this case.
[Joseph] begged the body of Jesus.
Beg
To ask for as a charity, esp. to ask for habitually or from house to house.
Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Beg
To make petition to; to entreat; as, to beg a person to grant a favor.
Beg
To take for granted; to assume without proof.
Beg
To ask to be appointed guardiln for, or to aso to havo a guardian appointed for.
Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards.
Beg
To ask alms or charity, especially to ask habitually by the wayside or from house to house; to live by asking alms.
I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed.
Beg
Call upon in supplication; entreat;
I beg you to stop!
Beg
Make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently;
Henry IV solicited the Pope for a divorce
My neighbor keeps soliciting money for different charities
Beg
Ask to obtain free;
Beg money and food
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to beg?
Begging means to ask for something earnestly or humbly, typically involving a verbal plea.
What is groveling?
Groveling involves displaying extreme submission or fear, often by kneeling or lying down.
Is begging always verbal?
While begging is primarily verbal, it can also include written pleas.
What are common reasons people beg?
People commonly beg for needs like food or money, or less tangible requests like forgiveness or company.
How is groveling viewed socially?
Groveling is often viewed as a sign of weakness or desperation.
Can groveling be a strategic act?
Sometimes, groveling can be used strategically to gain sympathy or favor.
What distinguishes begging from groveling in terms of dignity?
Begging might retain more dignity compared to groveling, which is often seen as self-abasing.
Can groveling be non-verbal?
Yes, groveling can be purely physical, such as lying down or kneeling, without verbal components.
What kind of situations might involve groveling?
Groveling is typically seen in situations with a significant power imbalance where one seeks mercy or forgiveness.
How is begging perceived in different cultures?
Perceptions of begging can vary widely, but it is often seen as a last resort in many cultures.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Fricative vs. Strident
Next Comparison
Bucatini vs. LinguineAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
