beset

verb

be·​set bi-ˈset How to pronounce beset (audio)
bē-
beset; besetting

transitive verb

1
: to set or stud with or as if with ornaments
a crown beset with rubies
… leaves, whose edges were beset with thorns …J. G. Frazer
2
: trouble, harass
inflation besets the economy
3
a
: to set upon : assail
the explorers were beset by wolves
b
: to hem in : surround
a town beset with high mountains
besetment noun

Examples of beset in a Sentence

A lack of money is the greatest problem besetting the city today. he's been beset by a lack of self-confidence virtually his entire life
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The thousands of balsas that set off from Cuba towards the United States in late summer of 1994 did so amidst the most dire humanitarian crisis that had beset the island since the 1959 Revolution. Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025 Are you beset by existential worries? James Parker, The Atlantic, 30 Sep. 2025 He and Kate Bosworth star in the horror comedy as a mom and dad whose neighborhood is beset by a pack of dangerous and surprisingly smart coyotes that can open doors and cause all sorts of suburban chaos. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025 As if the infighting weren’t enough, the Guinnesses are also beset by outside forces from seemingly every side of the cultural spectrum. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beset

Word History

Etymology

Middle English besetten, from Old English besettan, from be- + settan to set

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of beset was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beset. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

beset

verb
be·​set bi-ˈset How to pronounce beset (audio)
beset; besetting
1
: to trouble with problems
2
: to set upon : assail

More from Merriam-Webster on beset

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