An Encylopedia Britannica Company

November 02, 2018 Word of the Day

plead /ˈpliːd/ verb
plead
/ˈpliːd/
verb

pleads; pleaded /ˈpliːdəd/ or pled /ˈplɛd/; pleading

The girl is pleading with her father.
The girl is pleading with her father.
Definition of PLEAD

1 [no object] : to ask for something in a serious and emotional way

  • He begged and pleaded, but she would not change her mind.

— often + for

  • She pleaded [=begged] for forgiveness and got her job back.

  • pleading for help/mercy

— often + with

  • He pleaded with the judge not to send him to jail.

2 [+ object] : to try to prove (a case) in a court of law

  • She couldn't afford a lawyer to plead her case.

3 [no object] : to say in court that you are either guilty or not guilty of a crime : to make a plea

  • “How do you plead?” asked the judge.

  • “We plead guilty, Your Honor.”

  • He pled not guilty by reason of insanity. [=he said in court that he was not responsible for the crime because he was insane]

  • He agreed to plead to a lesser charge of manslaughter.

4 [+ object] : to give (something) as a reason or excuse for something

  • He pleaded that he didn't have enough money to pay his bill.

  • On that particular issue, I will have to plead ignorance. [=to say that I do not know anything about it]

5 : to argue in support of (a cause)

[+ object]

  • They went to plead their cause to the governor.

[no object]

  • We will plead on your behalf.

plead the Fifth

— see FIFTH

More Words of the Day