to beseech

Examples

• All

• The villagers beseeched the king to help them during the drought.

• Lord, I humbly beseech you, grant me wisdom to see the way clear.

  Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

• And I beg them, I beseech them to just stop it.

  TED-Ed

• Students in our classroom often beseech their teachers or other students when they want something from them.

  Academic text (2012)

• Nay, I beseech you, Sir, be not out with me.

• Please, signora, we beseech you

  The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

• Lord, I most humbly beseech you to help me, because I can no longer help myself.

  Fiction book (2001)

• Dear Father, we beseech thee, show us thy goodness in this evil place.

  Dragonslayer (1981)

• I beseech you, beware.

  The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

• Silently, they beseeched Luise to interrupt Celia or at least beg her to come to the point.

  Fiction book (1997)

Synonyms

A

to ask

vsto beseech

∞ 1.0

To request that someone do something or meet a requirement

is more earnest and fervent than neutral or formal asking

A

to ask for

vsto beseech

∞ 1.0

To tell someone you want or need something

is more urgent and fervent than general neutral asking

R

to request

vsto beseech

∞ 1.0

To ask for something politely or formally

is more fervent and urgent rather than merely polite or formal

S

to seek

vsto beseech

981 1.0

Ask someone for information, advice, or help

is a direct urgent plea not a general attempt to gain information

B

to beg

vsto beseech

417 1.0

Ask someone very seriously and urgently for something

is more formal and fervent than plain urgent pleading

P

to press

vsto beseech

285 3.9

Ask someone firmly and repeatedly to do something

is more humble and pleading in tone rather than persistent urging

P

to pray

vsto beseech

• Archaic

256 1.6

To beg someone urgently and humbly for something

is more general earnest asking rather than specifically religious

P

to plead

vsto beseech

232 3.9

Ask someone urgently and emotionally for something

is more fervent and intense than simple emotional asking

C

to call on

vsto beseech

• Formal

187 3.5

To ask someone to take action or give information, often in a meeting

is more emotional and fervent not mainly formal or procedural

A

to appeal

vsto beseech

100 2.7

To make a serious request for help or support

is usually a personal fervent plea rather than a public or general request

A

to ask for help

vsto beseech

98 1.0

To tell someone you need support with a task or problem

is more about urgent pleading for various needs not only getting help

S

to solicit

vsto beseech

• Formal

48 6.8

To ask people for something, often in a formal or persistent way

is more emotional and fervent rather than formal or businesslike

I

to implore

vsto beseech

• Formal

40 5.3

To ask someone very seriously to do or not do something

is similarly urgent but less desperate and more controlled

S

to seek help

vsto beseech

30 2.0

Ask someone for support when you face a problem

is a direct fervent plea rather than a general attempt to obtain support

B

to bid

vsto beseech

• Archaic

28 3.5

To tell someone politely or formally to do something

is an earnest pleading for something rather than a polite instruction or command

E

to exhort

vsto beseech

• Formal

16 7.7

To strongly encourage someone to do something

is about pleading for something rather than urging someone to act

E

to entreat

vsto beseech

• Formal

12 8.1

Ask someone in a serious, emotional way to do something

is more fervent and emotionally intense than that

S

to supplicate

vsto beseech

• Formal

3 9.6

To beg someone, often in prayer, for help or favor

is similarly earnest but less specifically humble or religious

A

to adjure

vsto beseech

• Formal

1 9.9

To urge someone very seriously or formally, often under oath, to do something

is a humble earnest plea rather than a solemn formal command

B

to beg on one's knees

vsto beseech

• Informal

1 7.0

Ask someone for help or forgiveness while kneeling and looking very desperate

is similarly urgent but without the extreme physical humility

I

to intreat

vsto beseech

• Archaic

9.9

To ask someone very strongly for something

is the modern common form used with the same earnestness

Antonyms

R

to refuse

716 1.7

To say no to a request or offer

How Earnest

to beg

417 1.0

to beseech

• Formal

47 8.2

to plead

232 3.9

to request

∞ 1.0

to ask

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology