Words / B2

PLEED/pliːd/

To plead is to ask in an emotional way, or in court to say you are guilty or not guilty: plead for time; plead not guilty. Beg is everyday; appeal is a formal challenge to a decision. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Mix-up: plea is the noun; please; bleed. Do not write plead for “argue an essay point” without the legal or begging sense.

Meaning

To ask in an emotional way; in court, to say you are guilty or not guilty.

Examples

• “The defendant pleaded not guilty, the court report said.”
• “Heads pleaded for a delay to the inspection, which is the urgent-request sense.”

Good to know

plead guilty / not guilty; plead for / with. Noun: a plea. Trap: please / plea as the verb. Law, news, and letters. Court answer, or an emotional ask.

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