ENGLISH
REFERENCE

petitioned

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //pəˈtɪʃənd// UK //pətˈɪʃənd// pe·ti·tioned

v. to make a formal request to a person or group in power. You usually do this to ask for a change in a law or a specific decision.

v. to make a formal written request to an authority or court for a particular cause or action. Often implies a collective effort or a legal procedure.


SIMPLE

The residents petitioned the city to build a new park.

CONTEXTUAL

Local business owners petitioned the council to reconsider the new parking restrictions before the holiday season.

COMPLEX

After the initial ruling was handed down, the defense team petitioned the high court for an emergency stay of execution pending further evidence.

Synonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and often takes the preposition 'for' or an infinitive clause.

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