besiege

[bih-seej]

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

besiege

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• besiegement noun
• besieger noun
• besiegingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of besiege¹

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

Example Sentences

Footage circulating on social media of besieged vehicles on the Dakar-Bamako corridor had been taken out of context, he insisted.

From BBC

An extensive earthen wall is being built around the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher and is intended to trap people inside, according to research from Yale University.

From BBC

Sittwe is now besieged and accessible only by sea and air.

From BBC

The women at the community kitchen in the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher are sitting in huddles of desperation.

From BBC

This category of besieged and suspect personhood inevitably expands to include political “enemies.”

From Salon

Related Words

• beleaguer 
• beset 
• blockade 
• encircle 
• trap