noun
Etymology
Origin of behest
before 1000; Middle English bihest ( e ), Old English behǣs promise. See be-, hest
Explanation
Behest is an authoritative command or request. If your boss or principal asks to see you, you go to their office at their behest. Behest rhymes with "request" and they almost mean the same thing, if you give your request a little authoritative oomph, just a tad bit of "or else." Another difference between these words is that you can't use behest as a verb: You can't behest someone. You act according to their behest. The root word here is the Old English hehaes, means "a vow."
Vocabulary lists containing behest
Romeo and Juliet
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This Week in Words: August 6 - 10, 2018
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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.
He gave the example of a hot trend in "agentic" AI in which digital assistants handle computer tasks independently at the behest of people.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced the teen's cause of death and released her autopsy report, which had been barred from public disclosure at the police's behest.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
He set his sights on Greenland, apparently at the behest of a cosmetics heir pal.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026
Months later, a psychiatrist evaluated Acacio at the behest of the medical board and found he has a “mental condition affecting his ability to practice medicine safely,” according to the document.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026
In 1574, Tycho spent part of his time in observing, but most of the year in Copenhagen, where, at the behest of the King, he gave a series of lectures at the university.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
