besiege

[ bih-seej ]

/ bɪˈsidʒ /

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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.

Nearby words

Origin of besiege

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

SYNONYMS FOR besiege

3 beset, pester, harass, harry, hound.

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Related formsbe·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

On his way, however, he stopped to besiege Fort Stanwix, or Schuyler.
The Story of the Thirteen Colonies|H. A. (Hlne Adeline) Guerber
But the place was by far too strong for so small a force to besiege, and still less to take it.
The Huguenots in France|Samuel Smiles.
Towards the end of March 1312 he was preparing to besiege Berwick with an unusually large force.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
The castle continued firm, and Gustavus began to levy forces to besiege it.
The Swedish Revolution Under Gustavus Vasa|Paul Barron Watson

Do you think these wolves could besiege and take a city like Khauran?'
A Witch Shall Be Born|Robert E. Howard

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 Formsbesieger, 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