beseech

play

verb be·seech \bi-ˈsēch, bē-\

Definition of beseech

beseeched

besought

play \-ˈsȯt\;

beseeching

transitive verb
1 : to beg for urgently or anxiously beseeched him to write while he was away — R. W. Hatch
2 : to request earnestly : implore besought their protection
intransitive verb
: to make supplication

See beseech defined for English-language learners

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Examples of beseech in a Sentence

parishioners ardently beseeched the local bishop not to close their beloved church

Recent Examples of beseech from the Web

Sanders, who will turn 79 before the next election, was beseeching people not to wait on him to save them.

— the washington post, The Mercury News, "Inspired by Sanders, activists push Democrats to left — or out of the way", 10 June 2017
Like Jouett before him, Hudson beseeched Jefferson to leave.

— michael kranish, Washington Post, "Jefferson fled Monticello to avoid being captured by the British. And he was mocked for it.", 2 June 2017
In addition, high-profile environmental groups across the political spectrum—including the Sierra Club, 350.org, and Catholic Climate Commitment—have all beseeched Trump to stick in the agreement.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "Will the Paris Agreement Be Stronger Without the United States?", 30 May 2017
Norwood’s hour-and-a-half speech had the passionate feel of a trial lawyer beseeching a jury.

— vanityfair.com, "Kafka in Vegas: A Murdered Circus Star, a Dubious Confession, and America’s Prosecutorial Misconduct Epidemic", 26 May 2017
Mr. Baroni, Gov. Chris Christie’s top appointee at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the bridge, beseeched Mr. Foye, the agency’s executive director, to reclose the lanes.

— kate zernike and noah remnick, New York Times, "Port Authority Chief Testifies Christie Ally Pressured Him to Reclose Lanes to Bridge", 21 Sep. 2016
Now in Theaters Synopsis: Russell Crowe stars as investigative reporter Cal McAffrey, beseeched by a congressman pal (Ben Affleck) to look into the death of his research assistant/mistress.

— hugh hart, WIRED, "Mutant Chronicles, Soloist", 22 Apr. 2009

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

Origin and Etymology of beseech

Middle English besechen, from be- + sechen to seek

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First Known Use: 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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

BESEECH Defined for English Language Learners

beseech

play

verb

Definition of beseech for English Language Learners

: to beg (someone) for something : to ask (someone) in a serious and emotional way to do something

BESEECH Defined for Kids

beseech

play

verb be·seech \bi-ˈsēch\

Definition of beseech for Students

besought

\-ˈsȯt\ or

beseeched

;

beseeching

: to ask in a serious and emotional way We beseeched the king to let him live.

Learn More about beseech

See words that rhyme with beseech Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for beseech Spanish Central: Translation of beseech Nglish: Translation of beseech for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of beseech for Arabic speakers

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Definition of beseech

beseeched

besought

beseeching

transitive verb

intransitive verb

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BESEECH Defined for English Language Learners

beseech

Definition of beseech for English Language Learners

BESEECH Defined for Kids

beseech

Definition of beseech for Students

besought

beseeched

beseeching

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