beseech

verb

be·​seech bi-ˈsēch 

bē-

beseeched or besought bi-ˈsȯt 

bē-

; 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

Synonyms

• beg
• petition

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of beseech in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The quiet that followed Heiss’s departure had an almost beseeching quality, like a cat rubbing against Prima’s calves. —Lillian Fishman, New Yorker, 4 May 2025

That was most visible in 2008, when he was beseeched by corporate executives and the George W. Bush administration to help the global financial system from melting down. —Michael J. De La Merced, New York Times, 4 May 2025

For weeks, Judge Schimel and his allies have beseeched Mr. Trump to get involved in the race. —Reid J. Epstein, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025

Roan gave a heartfelt speech while accepting the award, beseeching the music industry to provide healthcare and support for developing artists. —Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English besechen, from be- + sechen to seek

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for beseech

• impeach
• outreach
• beach
• beech
• bleach
• breach
• breech
• each
• keech
• leach
• leech
• meech

Kids Definition

beseech

verb

be·​seech bi-ˈsēch 

besought -ˈsȯt  or beseeched; beseeching

: to ask earnestly for