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

Italians and others are alleged to have paid large sums to shoot at civilians in the besieged city of Sarajevo.

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The man filming the video accused him of trying to smuggle supplies into the besieged city.

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The situation is worst in the besieged cities of el-Fasher in the western Darfur region and Kadugli in South Kordofan state.

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What to do with the besieged militants has become a sticking point in negotiations, Arab officials say.

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“It is being fought by the people who perceive themselves as controlling nothing. They are besieging the people they perceive as controlling everything.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• beleaguer 
• beset 
• blockade 
• encircle 
• trap