behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

bē-

1

: an authoritative order : command

The meeting was called at the senator's behest.

2

: an urgent prompting

At the behest of her friends, she read the poem aloud.

Did you know?

Behest is an ancient word: it is almost a thousand years old. It was formed from the prefix be- and the verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"), and its Old English ancestor was used exclusively in the sense of "promise," a now-obsolete meaning that continued on in Middle English especially in the phrase "the land of behest." The "command" meaning of behest is also ancient but it's still in good use, typically referring to an authoritative order. Behest is now also used with a less weighty meaning; it can refer to an urgent prompting, as in "a repeat performance at the behest of the troupe's fans."

Synonyms

• edict
• instruction
• order
• direction
• directive
• do
• injunction

Examples of behest in a Sentence

I only made the change at the author's behest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Marvel Cinematic Universe regular Ruffalo stars in the seven-episode season as an FBI agent who, at the behest of his boss (Martha Plimpton), leads a cross-agency task force to investigate a spate of home invasion robberies in the working-class suburbs of Philadelphia. —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2025

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said that the investments will be made at the behest of private companies, and benefit both Japan and the U.S. —Sakura Murakami, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025

The gloves-are-off message comes as Texas Democrats on Sunday fled their state and fanned out to Illinois, New York and Massachusetts to at least temporarily stymie an effort by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Republicans to redraw Texas’ congressional map at the behest of President Donald Trump. —Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025

Last week, Newsom floated the possibility of calling a special election in November to ask voters to approve new temporary congressional maps after the Texas Legislature, at the behest of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump, called a special legislative session. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, promise, command, from Old English behǣs promise, from behātan to promise, from be- + hātan to command, promise — more at hight

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing behest

• at someone's behest
• at the behest of someone

Rhymes for behest

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• bequest
• caressed
• celeste

Kids Definition

behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

: order entry 2 sense 5b, command

built monuments at their ruler's behest