plead
to appeal or entreat earnestly: to plead for time.
to use arguments or persuasions, as with a person, for or against something: She pleaded with him not to take the job.
to afford an argument or appeal: His youth pleads for him.
Law.
to make any allegation or plea in an action at law.
to put forward an answer on the part of a defendant to a legal declaration or charge.
to address a court as an advocate.
Obsolete. to prosecute a suit or action at law.
to allege or urge in defense, justification, or excuse: to plead ignorance.
Law.
to maintain (a cause) by argument before a court.
to allege or set forth (something) formally in an action at law.
to allege or cite in legal defense: to plead a statute of limitations.
Origin of plead
1Other words for plead
Other words from plead
- re·plead, verb, re·plead·ed, re·plead·ing.
- un·plead·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use plead in a sentence
Family members have said they pleaded with the women not to head to Syria.
Jihadis Release New Year’s Eve Video of Italian Female Hostages | Jamie Dettmer, Barbie Latza Nadeau | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTwo weeks before trial, Beebe pleaded guilty to a single charge of aggravated sexual battery.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything | Liz Seccuro | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTKorematsu knew firsthand the dangers of war-time hysteria and pleaded that we not make that mistake again.
“You have a drink with Mitch McConnell,” he pleaded with all two thousand-plus in attendance.
Anderson pleaded with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban clothing made from animal fur.
Whether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?
Gulliver's Travels | Jonathan Swift"Take me back, Jack; take me back to Mrs. Haggard's at once," the poor little woman had pleaded to the parson.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills"I didn't notice you was in the middle of a word, Elmer, really I didn't," pleaded old Mr. Nummler.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydWhen he discovered the monster who was planning this crime, he pleaded so eloquently that pussys life was saved.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste TchaikovskyMany a time and oft had she pleaded, with tears, to the remorseless girl who looked so soft and yielding.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James Wills
British Dictionary definitions for plead
/ (pliːd) /
(when intr, often foll by with) to appeal earnestly or humbly (to)
(tr; may take a clause as object) to give as an excuse; offer in justification or extenuation: to plead ignorance; he pleaded that he was insane
(intr often foll by for) to provide an argument or appeal (for): her beauty pleads for her
law to declare oneself to be (guilty or not guilty) in answer to the charge
law to advocate (a case) in a court of law
(intr) law
to file pleadings
to address a court as an advocate
Origin of plead
1Derived forms of plead
- pleadable, adjective
- pleader, 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
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