behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest How to pronounce behest (audio)
bē-
1
: an authoritative order : command
The meeting was called at the senator's behest.
2
: an urgent prompting
At the behest of her friends, she read the poem aloud.

Did you know?

Behest is an ancient word: it is almost a thousand years old. It was formed from the prefix be- and the verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"), and its Old English ancestor was used exclusively in the sense of "promise," a now-obsolete meaning that continued on in Middle English especially in the phrase "the land of behest." The "command" meaning of behest is also ancient but it's still in good use, typically referring to an authoritative order. Behest is now also used with a less weighty meaning; it can refer to an urgent prompting, as in "a repeat performance at the behest of the troupe's fans."

Examples of behest in a Sentence

I only made the change at the author's behest.
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.
When officials go to the monitor at the behest of their video assistant referee, the guidance is that the VAR is not supposed to re-referee an infraction. Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 20 June 2025 Also at issue in conservative attacks on transgender medical care: the belief that the decision to transition is made on a whim and at the behest of doctors. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025 At the behest of the president, numerous federal agencies have undertaken aggressive, invasive initiatives to crack down on immigration, police speech, investigate political opponents, curtail US public health efforts and emergency preparedness, and more. Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 16 June 2025 Organizers, at the behest of state authorities, canceled all No Kings protests in Minnesota. Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for behest

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, promise, command, from Old English behǣs promise, from behātan to promise, from be- + hātan to command, promise — more at hight

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of behest was in the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behest. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

behest

noun
be·​hest bi-ˈhest How to pronounce behest (audio)
: order entry 2 sense 5b, command
built monuments at their ruler's behest

More from Merriam-Webster on behest

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