behest

noun be·hest \ bi-ˈhest , bē- \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Examples: behest in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of behest

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.

See behest defined for English-language learners

See behest defined for kids

behest was our Word of the Day on 01/06/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of behest in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of behest from the Web

Moscow later agreed to build a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile in southern Egypt after the World Bank, reportedly at Washington’s behest, declined to finance the project.

— Washington Post, "World Cup Russia 2018 newsletter," 18 June 2018
China’s cooperation — implementing domestic controls on illicit substances — has occurred at the behest of the United States, not as a result of binding agreements.

— matthew garcia, USA TODAY, "What a U.S.-China trade war could mean for opioid epidemic," 6 July 2018
Many houses remain hidden behind tall walls built at Jeffs’ behest to keep residents from prying eyes.

— david montero, latimes.com, "Once zealously controlled by a religious sect, a small town tries to rehab its image — with beer," 5 July 2018
The community’s negative perception of the department was confirmed last year in an independent report on police operations drawn up at the county’s behest by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

— aaron gell, Longreads, "Did Brian Easley Have to Die?," 9 Apr. 2018
At the behest of President John F. Kennedy, Murrow had become head of the US Information Agency.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Leo Sarkisian, at 97; creator of VOA’s ‘Music Time in Africa’," 4 July 2018
Christine Valada, a family friend, tweeted about his death at the behest of his widow, Susan.

— robert jablon, USA TODAY, "'Star Trek' scriptwriter Harlan Ellison, master of sci-fi literature, dies at 84," 28 June 2018
According to a source close to the club, representatives of the Cubs met with Sosa in 2014, at the behest of Dominican government officials, to discuss a possible homecoming.

— SI.com, "Exiled by the Cubs, Sammy Sosa Is Enjoying the Life He Wants You to See," 27 June 2018
The Witch opens in a hospital facility with a wholesale massacre of (grab your pearls) children at the behest of steely Professor Baek (Cho Min-soon, star of Kim Ki-duk’s divisive Pieta).

— elizabeth kerr, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion' ('Manyeo'): Film Review," 27 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'behest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Behest first appeared in 12th century Old English as behλst, which is formed from the prefix be- and the Old English verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"). While the word was originally used only in the sense of "promise," it acquired the additional sense of "command" among speakers of Middle English. Among contemporary English speakers, behest is no longer used in the sense of "promise" but rather denotes an authoritative or urgent request or command. Old English hātan also gave English the now-archaic words hest (meaning "command") and hight ("being called or named").

Origin and Etymology of behest

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year