pleadverb
uk/pliːd/us/pliːd/pleaded or US also pled, pleaded or US also pledplead verb (REQUEST)
C2 [ I ] to make an urgent, emotional statement or request for something:
He was on his knees, pleading for mercy/forgiveness.
She appeared on television to plead with the kidnappers.
[ + speech ] "Give us more time," they pleaded.
More examples
- Her voice was breaking with emotion as she pleaded for her child's return.
- The prisoners pleaded for mercy.
- She got what she wanted by dint of pleading and threatening.
- 'Please, let the children go!' she pleaded.
- She pleaded with him to change his mind, but he refused to listen.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making appeals & requests
- a cry for help idiom
- appellate
- application
- ask for sb
- beseech
- besiege
- besought
- bum
- cri de coeur
- crowdsource
- freeloader
- gateway
- go over sb's head idiom
- hit
- hit sb up
- I'll thank you to do sth idiom
- pester
- petition
- request
- scrounge
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plead verb (STATE)
C2 [ I, L only + adj, T ] specialized law to make a statement of what you believe to be true, especially in support of something or someone or when someone has been accused in a law court:
The defendant pleaded not guilty/innocent to robbery with violence.
They paid a high-powered attorney to plead their case (= argue for them in court).
The judge ruled her unfit to plead (= to answer a legal charge) on the grounds of insanity.
More examples
- She pleaded her innocence, but no one believed her.
- The accused pleaded not guilty on grounds of diminished responsibility.
- He did not have to pay his speeding fine because he pleaded diplomatic immunity.
- The judge won't look favourably on her if she pleads not guilty.
- You stand accused of murder, how do you plead?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Court cases, orders & decisions
- actionable
- administer
- admissible
- affidavit
- affiliation order
- bail
- bale
- defend
- inadmissible
- injunction
- judgment
- judicature
- judicial
- plea
- remedy
- retrial
- Rex
- ruling
- separation
- sequester
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Assertions & asserting
plead verb (EXCUSE)
C2 [ T ] to say something as an excuse or explanation:
She left early, pleading pressure of work.
plead ignorance formal
to say that you do not know about something:
He pleaded ignorance when they found the package in his suitcase.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Denying & contradicting
- abnegate
- answer
- answer (sb) back
- change your tune idiom
- debunk
- defensive
- denial
- deny
- disagree
- Dutchman
- hell
- I'm a Dutchman idiom
- nonsense
- oxymoron
- rebut
- speak for yourself idiom
- stand
- stand sth on its head idiom
- talk
- the hell sb is/does, etc. idiom
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pleading
adjective uk/ˈpliː.dɪŋ/us/ˈpliː.dɪŋ/
a pleading tone of voice
pleadingly
adverb uk/ˈpliː.dɪŋ.li/us/ˈpliː.dɪŋ.li/