What does "beg off" mean?

To obtain somebody's permission to skip or cancel an event that one has previously arranged with them.

What is a synonym for "beg off"?

Common synonyms include: abandon, back down, back out, be unmoved, be unwilling, cry off.

verb

verb ·Rare ·Advanced level

Verb

1
To obtain somebody's permission to skip or cancel an event that one has previously arranged with them. idiomatic
"I wonder if I can beg off going to the meeting that day, since it will take me an extra two hours out of my way."
2
ask for permission to be released from an engagement wordnet

"I wonder if I can beg off going to the meeting that day, since it will take me an extra two hours out of my way."

beg + off