beseech

verb

be·​seech bi-ˈsēch How to pronounce beseech (audio)
bē-
beseeched or besought bi-ˈsȯt How to pronounce beseech (audio)
bē-
; beseeching

transitive verb

1
: to beg for urgently or anxiously
beseeched him to write while he was awayR. W. Hatch
2
: to request earnestly : implore
besought their protection

intransitive verb

: to make supplication
Choose the Right Synonym for beseech

beg, entreat, beseech, implore, supplicate, adjure, importune mean to ask urgently.

beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy
implored her not to leave him

supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

Examples of beseech in a Sentence

parishioners ardently beseeched the local bishop not to close their beloved church
Recent Examples on the Web Students from across the country had flooded Europe with telegrams, beseeching the Chinese delegation at Versailles to salvage the country’s pride and walk away. Dan Xin Huang, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2019 The prime minister was beseeched to conclude an accord at every turn. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 27 July 2024 Biden himself was present when the minister, choir and the congregation of Philadelphia’s Mount Airy Church of God in Christ shouted hallelujah and beseeched the good Lord to reinvigorate the president. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 July 2024 As a sideline, Saddam also beseeched God to save him because God owed him one. Amatzia Baram, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2012 See all Example Sentences for beseech 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beseech.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English besechen, from be- + sechen to seek

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beseech was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near beseech

Cite this Entry

“Beseech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beseech. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

beseech

verb
be·​seech bi-ˈsēch How to pronounce beseech (audio)
besought -ˈsȯt How to pronounce beseech (audio) or beseeched; beseeching
: to ask earnestly for

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