# plead

/ˈpɫid/ (US) · /plˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/plead
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to beg or implore

verb · CEFR B2

to ask for something in a very serious and emotional way because you want it very much.

For teachers: to make an earnest or urgent entreaty; to implore or beseech someone with emotional intensity.

- The child pleaded with his parents to let him stay up for one more hour.
- The refugees pleaded for mercy, their voices rising in a desperate chorus as the border guards considered their request for asylum.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with' for the person and 'for' for the thing requested.

### 2. legal statement

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

to state in a court of law whether you are guilty or not guilty of a crime.

For teachers: to enter a formal statement in a court of law as a defendant, typically declaring oneself 'guilty' or 'not guilty'.

- The defendant decided to plead guilty to the lesser charge to avoid a longer sentence.
- After consulting with her legal counsel, the suspect chose to plead not guilty, maintaining that the evidence against her was purely circumstantial.

Usage: Takes a direct complement such as 'guilty', 'not guilty', or 'no contest'.

### 3. to use as an excuse

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give a specific reason or excuse for why you cannot do something or why you did something wrong.

For teachers: to offer a specific fact or circumstance as an explanation or excuse for an action or a failure to act.

- He pleaded ignorance of the new rules when the manager confronted him.
- The minister pleaded a prior engagement to avoid attending the controversial debate, though many suspected he simply wanted to avoid the press.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'plead ignorance' or 'plead insanity'.

## Examples

- The prisoner decided to plead guilty to the crime.
- The family had to plead with the landlord for more time to pay their monthly rent.
- Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution, the defendant chose to plead not guilty, forcing the case to proceed to a full jury trial.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.