# pleading

/ˈpɫidɪŋ/ (US) · /plˈiːdɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. begging or entreating

adjective · CEFR B2

showing in your voice or face that you are begging for something or want someone to be kind.

For teachers: expressing an earnest, humble, or urgent entreaty; often used to describe facial expressions or vocal tones.

- The dog gave her a pleading look when she finished her sandwich.
- He spoke in a pleading tone, hoping to convince the committee to grant him one final extension on the project deadline.

### 2. legal documents

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

formal written statements that people in a court case give to the judge to explain their side.

For teachers: formal written statements filed by the parties in a civil or criminal case that state their respective claims and defences.

- The lawyer spent the afternoon preparing the pleading for the new case.
- The judge reviewed the initial pleadings to determine whether the plaintiff had sufficient grounds to proceed with the litigation.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'pleadings' to refer to the entire set of documents.

### 3. the act of begging

verb · CEFR B2

the act of asking for something in a very strong or emotional way.

For teachers: the present participle or gerund of 'plead', referring to the act of making an earnest appeal or a formal statement in court.

- Pleading with him was useless because he had already made up his mind.
- After hours of pleading for mercy, the prisoner was finally allowed to speak with a legal representative.

## Examples

- She gave him a pleading look.
- The child made a pleading gesture to his mother.
- His pleading tone suggested he had nothing left to lose.

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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.