plead
To ask for something in a very serious or emotional way, or to give an answer in court.
Explanation at your level:
When you want something very much, you plead. It is like saying 'please' many times. You can also plead in a court if you are in trouble with the law.
You plead with a person when you are sad or worried. For example, 'She pleaded with him to stay.' In court, people plead guilty or not guilty.
The word plead is used for urgent requests. It shows strong emotion. In legal settings, it is a formal way to state your position. You might plead for a second chance at work or school.
Plead carries a nuance of desperation. It is often used in news reports regarding legal trials. It is more intense than 'beg' or 'ask' and carries a specific legal weight that is distinct from casual requests.
In advanced English, plead is often used figuratively. One might plead a case for a new policy, meaning to present a logical and emotional argument. It bridges the gap between legal formality and emotional persuasion.
The etymological roots of plead reflect the historical intersection of rhetoric and law. In literature, it is used to denote a character's final attempt at salvation or justification. Its usage is precise and carries significant socio-legal implications.
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- It means to beg.
- It is used in law.
- Past tense is pleaded.
- Rhymes with need.
When you plead with someone, you aren't just asking; you are begging with your heart. It’s that moment when you really need someone to listen or change their mind.
In the courtroom, plead takes on a very specific, serious meaning. A defendant must plead their case, which means they are officially telling the judge whether they are guilty or innocent.
The word plead comes from the Old French word plaidier, which meant to discuss or argue a case in court. It traces back further to the Latin placitum, meaning a decree or opinion.
Historically, it was strictly a legal term. Over hundreds of years, it evolved to describe the emotional, desperate begging we see in everyday life today.
Use plead when the stakes are high. You might plead for mercy or plead for help. It implies a sense of urgency that 'ask' simply doesn't have.
In legal English, common collocations include plead guilty or plead innocent. It is a formal verb that carries a lot of weight in both conversation and law.
1. Plead the fifth: To refuse to answer a question because it might incriminate you. 2. Plead ignorance: To claim you didn't know something. 3. Plead one's case: To argue for your side. 4. Plead for mercy: To beg for forgiveness. 5. Plead guilty/not guilty: The standard legal declaration.
The past tense of plead can be pleaded or sometimes pled (especially in American English). It is a regular verb in most formal contexts.
Pronounced /pliːd/, it rhymes with need, seed, and deed. The stress is always on the single syllable.
Fun Fact
It was once only for lawyers!
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound.
Clear 'd' at the end.
Common Errors
- pronouncing as 'pled' in present tense
- dropping the 'd'
- confusing with 'plaid'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Regular Verbs
plead-pleaded
Examples by Level
He pleaded for help.
He begged.
Past tense.
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She pleaded with her mom.
They pleaded for more time.
He pleaded innocent.
The dog pleaded for food.
We pleaded for peace.
They pleaded for mercy.
I pleaded my case.
She pleaded for a chance.
The lawyer pleaded for leniency.
He pleaded guilty to the crime.
She pleaded with the board to reconsider.
The victim pleaded for justice.
They pleaded for the truth to be told.
He pleaded his case before the committee.
We pleaded for a better solution.
She pleaded for understanding.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.
She pleaded with him to change his mind.
He pleaded his case with passion and logic.
The charity pleaded for donations to help the poor.
They pleaded for an end to the conflict.
He pleaded for a second chance at the job.
The witness pleaded for anonymity.
She pleaded with the universe for a sign.
The defense attorney pleaded the case for the defendant's mental health.
He pleaded ignorance when asked about the missing funds.
The activists pleaded for a radical change in policy.
She pleaded for the preservation of the forest.
The court allowed him to plead his side of the story.
He pleaded with the authorities to release the documents.
They pleaded for a fair hearing.
The situation pleaded for immediate action.
His eyes pleaded for a mercy he knew he did not deserve.
The poet pleaded for a return to simpler times in his verses.
She pleaded her cause with such eloquence that the jury wept.
He pleaded for the sanctity of the agreement.
The nation pleaded for a leader who would unite them.
They pleaded for the restoration of their rights.
She pleaded for a reprieve from the harsh sentence.
The circumstances pleaded for a more nuanced approach.
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"plead the fifth"
refusing to answer
He pleaded the fifth to avoid trouble.
legal/casual""
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Easily Confused
sounds same
pleat is a fold in fabric
Her skirt had a pleat.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + plead + with + someone
I pleaded with him.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Verwandt
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
pleaded is standard, pled is common in US
Tips
Rhyme Time
Rhyme with need.
Legal Use
Use with guilty.
Courtroom
Watch legal shows.
Past Tense
Use pleaded.
Long E
Hold the E.
Don't say 'plead' for 'please'.
They are different.
Old French
Came from 13th century.
Flashcards
Use daily.
Prepositions
With or for.
Tone
Use when desperate.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Plead sounds like 'please' + 'd' (done).
Visual Association
A person with hands together.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Use it in a sentence today.
Wortherkunft
Old French
Original meaning: to argue a case
Kultureller Kontext
None, but can be intense.
Common in court dramas.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Courtroom
- plead guilty
- plead innocent
- plead the case
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had to plead for something?"
"Do you watch court shows?"
"What is a plea?"
"When is it okay to plead?"
"Is pleading effective?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you pleaded.
Explain the legal meaning.
Describe a character pleading.
Why do we plead?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
8 FragenYes, it is the past tense of plead.
Teste dich selbst
I ___ with him to stay.
Past tense.
What does plead mean in court?
Legal context.
Plead is only used for begging.
It is also used in law.
Word
Bedeutung
Synonyms.
Subject-Verb-Object.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
Plead is an urgent, serious way to ask or a formal legal declaration.
- It means to beg.
- It is used in law.
- Past tense is pleaded.
- Rhymes with need.
Rhyme Time
Rhyme with need.
Legal Use
Use with guilty.
Courtroom
Watch legal shows.
Past Tense
Use pleaded.
