besiege

American  

[bih-seej] / bɪˈsidʒ /

verb (used with object)

besieged, besieging

1. to lay siege to.

2. to crowd around; crowd in upon; surround.

   Vacationers besieged the travel office.

3. to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

   Synonyms:

   hound, harry, harass, pester, beset

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besiege British  

/ bɪˈsiːdʒ /

verb

1. to surround (a fortified area, esp a city) with military forces to bring about its surrender

2. to crowd round; hem in

3. to overwhelm, as with requests or queries

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Other Word Forms

• besiegement noun
• besieger noun
• besiegingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of besiege

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bysegen; be-, siege

Example Sentences

So-called jamming has been commonplace along the Russia-Ukraine border over recent years, and now the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil is transported, is besieged by such electronic attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even if the regime doesn’t fall, it will be leaderless, impoverished, isolated, besieged, mostly disarmed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even if the regime doesn’t fall, it will be leaderless, impoverished, isolated, besieged, mostly disarmed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Even if the regime doesn’t fall, it will be leaderless, impoverished, isolated, besieged, mostly disarmed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Israel scrutinises all aid into besieged Gaza, a tiny coastal territory surrounded by fences and walls on all sides.

From Barron's

Related Words

• beleaguer
• beset
• blockade
• encircle
• trap