pleading

[ plee-ding ]

/ ˈpli dɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: pleading / pleadings on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of a person who pleads.

Law.

the advocating of a cause in a court of law.
the art or science of setting forth or drawing pleas in legal causes.
a formal statement, usually written, setting forth the cause of action or defense of a case.
pleadings, the successive statements delivered alternately by plaintiff and defendant until the issue is joined.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of pleading

1250–1300; Middle English pledynge (gerund). See plead, -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM pleading

plead·ing·ly, adverbplead·ing·ness, nounnon·plead·ing, adjectivenon·plead·ing·ly, adverb

un·plead·ing, adjective

Words nearby pleading

plea bargaining, pleach, plead, pleadable, pleader, pleading, pleadings, pleasance, pleasant, Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Hill

How to use pleading in a sentence

Anthony said that as soon as he looked at the pleading girl’s face, he knew he was going to help that afternoon.
Kids were flailing in a frigid pond, screaming that they would die: ‘Not going to happen today,’ he told them.|Cathy Free|February 28, 2022|Washington Post
Finally, with continued pleading and cajoling, he got her to move, one step at a time, to the top of the pass, where they found the rest of the family and descended safely to the other side.
The Six-Person Family Chasing the Triple Crown|Maggie Slepian|April 1, 2021|Outside Online
There is no requirement for a member of Congress to resign after pleading guilty to a felony.
The Felon Who Wouldn’t Leave Congress|Ben Jacobs, David Freedlander|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like the anti-Assad rebels and Kurdish fighters, they are pleading for more of America, not less.
Indefensible but Indispensable America|Jamie Dettmer|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Hizzoner asked in a pleading tone—an extremely rare posture for a man who in the past had swaggered with an air of invincibility.
Despite Crack and Graft, D.C. Loved ‘Hizzoner’ Marion Barry|Lloyd Grove|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His attorney says he will be pleading not guilty at his arraignment in December.
Rape, Lies & Videotape in Ferguson|Michael Daly|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On Wednesday, he had posted an emotional video on YouTube pleading with authorities to save his dog, but it fell on deaf ears.
The Dog is Dead—And We’ll Never Know if He Had Ebola|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I am pleading for a clear white light of education that shall go like the sun round the whole world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Gordon turned his pleading eyes on his old friend without a ray of concession; but for a moment he hesitated.
Confidence|Henry James
While a counsellor was pleading at the Irish bar, a louse unluckily peeped from under his wig.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
The woman seemed very reluctant to accept the offer, pleading various excuses.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Ethel's mode of pleading was unfortunate; the "very foolish of Margaret" were the very words to displease.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for pleading

pleading

/ (ˈpliːdɪŋ) /

noun law

the act of presenting a case in court, as by a lawyer on behalf of his client

the art or science of preparing the formal written statements of the parties to a legal actionSee also pleadings

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

pleading

Origin of pleading

OTHER WORDS FROM pleading

Words nearby pleading

Words related to pleading

How to use pleading in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pleading