beseech
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
unbeseechingadjective
-
beseechingnessnoun
-
unbeseechinglyadverb
-
beseechernoun
-
beseechingadjective
-
beseechinglyadverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have besoughtperfect
-
has besoughtperfect 3rd person singular
-
has beseechedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have beseechedperfect
-
is beseechingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
are beseechingprogressive
-
am beseechingprogressive 1st person singular
-
beseechingparticiple
-
have been beseechingperfect progressive
-
has been beseechingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
beseechessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had beseechedperfect
-
had besoughtperfect
-
had been beseechingperfect progressive
-
was beseechingprogressive singular
-
beseechedparticiple
-
were beseechingprogressive plural
-
beseechedsimple
-
besoughtparticiple
-
besoughtsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of beseech
before 1100; Middle English bisechen, Old English besēcan. See be-, seek
Explanation
If you're begging for something but you want to sound formal and a little old-fashioned, say "I beseech you!" It really captures how urgent and desperate you are, yet perhaps saves a shred of your dignity. Beseech sounds a little like seek, which is appropriate. To beseech is to seek for something, or for permission. It is commonly used when people have an urgent request of clergy, or of a formal elder. It definitely adds dramatic undertones to whatever you're talking about. When your very life is on the line, it's your last hope, and you have nowhere else to turn, it's time to start beseeching.
Vocabulary lists containing beseech
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Its inscription "I beseech thee, holy sun of righteousness, be the way" has not been found on any other object, according to historian Helen Geake.
From BBC • Nov. 19, 2023
“I beseech you to control him if you can. If you can’t, I will. I will excuse him and draw every negative inference that I can,” said Engoron.
From Slate • Nov. 6, 2023
"I beseech you to control him if you can. If you can't, I will."
From Reuters • Nov. 6, 2023
"I beseech you to control him, if you can," the judge said again shortly after, warning Kise that he would control the former president if the attorney did not.
From Salon • Nov. 6, 2023
“If I should die, I beseech my lord to see that my letters are delivered.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
