besiege

be·siege

verb \bi-ˈsēj, bē-\

: to surround a city, building, etc., with soldiers and try to take control of it

: to gather around (someone) in a way that is aggressive, annoying, etc.

: to overwhelm (someone) with too many questions or requests for things

be·siegedbe·sieg·ing

Full Definition of BESIEGE

transitive verb

1

:  to surround with armed forces

2

a :  to press with requests :  importune

b :  to cause worry or distress to :  beset <doubts besieged him>

— be·sieg·er noun

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Examples of BESIEGE

1. The army besieged the castle.
2. Customers have besieged the company with questions.

First Known Use of BESIEGE

14th century

Related to BESIEGE

Synonyms

beleaguer, blockade, invest, leaguer [archaic], lay siege to

Related Words

barricade, block, cut off, dam, encircle; assail, assault, attack, beset; confine, insulate, isolate, quarantine

Near Antonyms

emancipate, free, liberate, release, rescue

Other Military Terms

bivouac, logistics, petard, salient, sally, supernumerary, tactical