beseech
Americanverb (used with object)
-
beseeches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
beseeched,
past participle, past
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besought,
past participle, past
-
beseeching
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
beseeches,
present (3rd person singular)
-
beseeched,
past participle, past
-
besought,
past participle, past
-
beseeching
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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beseechernoun
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beseechingnessnoun
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beseechingadjective
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unbeseechingadjective
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beseechinglyadverb
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unbeseechinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
beseechsimple
-
beseechessimple
-
have beseechedperfect
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have besoughtperfect
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has beseechedperfect
-
has besoughtperfect
-
am beseechingprogressive
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are beseechingprogressive
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is beseechingprogressive
-
have been beseechingperfect progressive
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has been beseechingperfect progressive
Past
-
beseechedsimple
-
besoughtsimple
-
had beseechedperfect
-
had besoughtperfect
-
was beseechingprogressive
-
were beseechingprogressive
-
had been beseechingperfect progressive
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
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Instead of "Said": Words for Asking and Offering
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"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III
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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.
See Examples For:
Reflecting his deep interest in religion and spirituality, above the door is inscribed the prayer: "Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord."
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026
“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
Adrastus, the only one alive of the seven who had started the war, came to Theseus, King of Athens, to beseech him to induce the Thebans to allow the bodies to be buried.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Her letter beseeches the Administration to move “quickly” and with “urgency” on the federal review needed to expand the Algonquin gas pipeline.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
In a sequence that would mortify anyone averse to audience participation, he gently beseeches a handful of patrons to stand with their hands up and foreheads against the wall, like a row of perpetrators.
From New York Times ● Feb. 12, 2024
The IRS beseeches taxpayers to avoid paper like the plague: Do not file paper returns and do not ask for a paper refund check if you want timely action.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 29, 2022
TV reporter Bruce Nolan, who beseeches God for divine intervention after he loses a job promotion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2019
If the dead can appear to the living, Lourdes beseeches God through tears, allow Victor to show himself so she can say good-bye.
From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario
Celtic staff beseeched them to clear off but their pleas were ignored.
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026
He beseeched the U.S. government to dip into the millions of dollars Congress annually allocates to compensate victims of U.S. attacks.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2024
The United Nations, aid groups and Israeli human rights groups have beseeched Israel to allow water and emergency deliveries of fuel to flow into the Gaza Strip.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 15, 2023
“Please put an end to this,” a viewer from Roseburg, Ore., beseeched the federal watchdog organization.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2023
In 1888, a delegation of townsfolk beseeched Emmett to run for county sheriff, which he did, winning easily.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Anaheim besought the court’s help but lost, and the team became just the Los Angeles Angels once more.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2022
When the Fire Department ordered him to take it down, Van Meter besought a higher civic judgment — and lo!
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2022
As a result, JWST’s development was besought by years of delays and setbacks, causing the project’s budget to grow to nearly $10 billion.
From The Verge ● Jul. 11, 2022
Determined, she took the train to Topeka and besought the state attorney general, also to no avail.
From Slate ● Sep. 7, 2021
Then, turning to him, “Oh, do let’s go back, Bernard,” she besought; “I do so hate it here.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Mr. Xi’s restraint, by contrast, made it appear as if he viewed Mr. Trump as the beseeching party in the relationship.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
Little wonder the local community is beseeching the heavens for rain.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2025
We passed multiple radar speed signs, declaiming mph numbers, beseeching drivers to slow down.
From Slate ● Jun. 22, 2025
Business and union leaders joined in publicly and privately, beseeching him not to go down this idiotic road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2025
She gave her brother a beseeching look, but he only pushed harder.
From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty
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