besiege

verb

be·​siege bi-ˈsēj 

bē-

besieged; besieging

transitive verb

1

military : to surround with armed forces

The army had besieged the castle.

2

a

: to press with requests : importune

… besieging the royal ministers with petitions …

—T. B. Costain

besieged by the media

b

: to cause worry or distress to : beset

doubts besieged him

besieger noun

Synonyms of besiege

• attack
• blockade
• encircle
• assault
• beleaguer

Examples of besiege in a Sentence

Customers have besieged the company with questions.

Recent Examples on the Web

The San Francisco 49ers continue to be besieged by significant injuries for the second season in a row. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Meanwhile, Earth itself is suddenly besieged by an alien invasion. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025

For more than a year, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has besieged El Fasher, its final major barrier to controlling Darfur. —Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025

Made in Italy is besieged, and action must be taken to safeguard the local supply chain and its reputation. —Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for besiege

• siege

Kids Definition

besiege

verb

be·​siege bi-ˈsēj 

besieged; besieging

1

: to surround with armed forces for the purpose of capturing

2

: to trouble with requests

3

: to cause worry or distress to

doubts besieged him

besieger noun