besieges; besieged; besieging
1
: to surround a city, building, etc., with soldiers and try to take control of it
The army besieged the castle.
2
: to gather around (someone) in a way that is aggressive, annoying, etc.
—usually used as (be) besieged
They were besieged by reporters while leaving the courthouse.
politicians being besieged by the media
3
: to overwhelm (someone) with too many questions or requests for things
Customers have besieged the company with questions.
—usually used as (be) besiegedEvery day, her office is besieged [=bombarded] with letters/questions/complaints about the problem.
Cite this Entry
“Besiege.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/besiege. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
