definitions

besiege

[ bih-seej ]
/ bɪˈsidʒ /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR besiege ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), be·sieged, be·sieg·ing.

to lay siege to.
to crowd around; crowd in upon; surround: Vacationers besieged the travel office.
to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

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RELATED WORDS

encircle, beleaguer, beset, blockade, trap, harass, hound, plague, pester, invest, attack, congregate, environ, assail, encompass, confine, nag, importune, harry, trouble

Nearby words

besht, beside, beside oneself, beside the point, besides, besiege, beskids, beslan, beslobber, besmear, besmirch

Origin of besiege

First recorded in 1250–1300, besiege is from the Middle English word bysegen. See be-, siege

Related forms

be·siege·ment, nounbe·sieg·er, nounbe·sieg·ing·ly, adverbun·be·sieged, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for besiege

British Dictionary definitions for besiege

besiege

/ (bɪˈsiːdʒ) /

verb (tr)

to surround (a fortified area, esp a city) with military forces to bring about its surrender
to crowd round; hem in
to overwhelm, as with requests or queries

Derived Forms

besieger, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012