petition
noun
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Definition of petition
(Entry 1 of 2)
petition
verb
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Definition of petition (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from petition
Noun
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adjective
Verb
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noun
Synonyms for petition
Synonyms: Noun
adjuration, appeal, conjuration, cry, desire, entreaty, plea, pleading, prayer, solicitation, suit, suppliance, supplication
Synonyms: Verb
appeal (to), beg, beseech, besiege, conjure, entreat, impetrate, implore, importune, plead (to), pray, solicit, supplicate
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Examples of petition in a Sentence
Noun
They collected 2,000 signatures on a petition demanding that women be allowed to join the club. Would you like to sign our petition? We presented a petition to the legislature to change the law. She filed a petition for divorce. We ask you to hear our petition.Verb
The organization petitioned the government to investigate the issue. All people had the right to petition the king for help. She petitioned to join their club.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Over the past month or so thousands of Google employees, including Jeff Dean, the firm’s AI chief, have signed a petition protesting against the work; at least 12 have resigned. — The Economist, "Google runs into more flak on artificial intelligence," 14 June 2018 Other notable names to back the campaign include Plácido Domingo, James Blunt, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, while more than 30,000 songwriters, artists and creators have signed a petition in support of the copyright directive. — Richard Smirke, Billboard, "Paul McCartney Calls On European Parliament To Tackle Value Gap Ahead Of July 5 Copyright Vote," 4 July 2018 According to the Associated Press, Senate Democrats filed a discharge petition last week, which triggered Wednesday’s vote under the Congressional Review Act (CRA). — Lauren Young, Teen Vogue, "The Senate Will Vote on Whether or Not to Save Net Neutrality," 15 May 2018 Republicans have a 236-197 House majority, but only one House Republican has signed the petition. — Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, "Net neutrality bill 38 votes short in Congress, and time has almost run out," 11 Dec. 2018 Earlier in the day, Ardern spoke to hundreds of people gathered in Auckland, telling them her own great-great-grandmother had signed the petition for women to get the vote back in 1893. — Nick Perry, Fox News, "New Zealand celebrates 125 years of women having the vote," 19 Sep. 2018 But in the months following its unveiling, 1.2 million users around the world signed a petition begging the company to reconsider. — Ashley Carman, The Verge, "Snapchat’s redesign cost it millions of users," 7 Aug. 2018 The House Republican caucus quickly took to Facebook, claiming credit for Herring’s decision after thousands signed a petition in support of the move. — Laura Vozzella, BostonGlobe.com, "Va. seeks to dismiss suit challenging abortion restrictions," 14 July 2018 Over the last two days, nearly 500 Yale Law alumni, students and faculty members … have signed a petition criticizing Yale for celebrating its alumnus’s nomination. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: GOP candidates caught in a bind on Medicaid," 13 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The board had also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court before settling last year. — Ben Finley, The Seattle Times, "Virginia district split over ending transgender bathroom ban," 19 Feb. 2019 Thousands seek to enter the U.S. each year, either by petitioning for asylum or by crossing the border illegally. — Robbie Whelan, WSJ, "Why Are People Fleeing Central America? A New Breed of Gangs Is Taking Over.," 2 Nov. 2018 FirstEnergy, a power corporation whose coal and nuclear units are under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, petitioned the DOE to use this power in April. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Trump’s coal rescue is getting more complicated," 16 Oct. 2018 The city has also petitioned the state Legislature requesting that the same room tax paid by visitors staying at hotels and inns in Salem be charged to staying in short-term rentals. — John Laidler, BostonGlobe.com, "Salem residents can offer input on short-term rentals ordinance," 20 June 2018 Among nuclear power companies that could lose out if tariffs are imposed is FirstEnergy Corp., which filed for bankruptcy in April and petitioned the Department of Energy to bail it out. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "US considers tariffs on uranium imports," 22 July 2018 Six years later, both had fallen into disrepair and a new group of users petitioned Newbold Morris, so unyielding on Kahn and Noguchi’s plans for Riverside Park, for improvements, like adding a rubber safety surface under the equipment. — Alexandra Lange, Curbed, "How not to cheat children: Let them build their own playgrounds," 18 July 2018 Chinese diplomats have petitioned several governments in their capitals against attacking Beijing’s Xinjiang policies at the United Nations, according to diplomats briefed on the matter. — Laurence Norman, WSJ, "China Intensifies Lobbying to Thwart Criticism of Muslim Detentions," 11 Jan. 2019 The Colville Tribe had petitioned the Environment Protection Agency in 1999 to hold Teck responsible for contaminating the river that drains into Lake Roosevelt. — Agueda Pacheco-flores, The Seattle Times, "Appeals court sides with Colville Tribe against Canadian mining company for polluting Upper Columbia River," 25 Sep. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'petition.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for petition
petition
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of petition
See the full definition for petition in the English Language Learners Dictionary
petition
noun
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Kids Definition of petition
(Entry 1 of 2)
petition
verbKids Definition of petition (Entry 2 of 2)
petition
nounLegal Definition of petition
(Entry 1 of 2)
petition
transitive verbLegal Definition of petition (Entry 2 of 2)
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