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

Now inked, at the vocal behest of U.S. President Donald Trump, is a pledge to more than double alliance members’ defense expenditure from 2% to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2035. —Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 27 June 2025

The non-endorsement capped off a tumultuous approval process for the UFT, who had to drop a prerequisite for their backing that candidates spend a day teaching at the Adams administration’s behest. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025

The New York officer then told Gary that a man from New York was supposed to, at Djuric’s behest, drive a 2022 Infiniti Q50 to Midway Airport from New York City. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025

Though the initial case was dismissed and the couple broke off their relationship at the psychologist's behest, Wilson's family filed a conservatorship lawsuit two years later and successfully removed the musician from Landy's care. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 11 June 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

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Kids Definition

behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

: order entry 2 sense 5b, command

built monuments at their ruler's behest