besiege
/bɪˈsiːdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈsēj bē-/ (ame, mw)
besiege — verb
- besiegepresent simple I / you / we / they
- besiegeshe / she / it
- besiegedpast simple
- besieging-ing form
1. to close in on a town, fort, palace, or other place with soldiers or weapons, st
to close in on a town, fort, palace, or other place with soldiers or weapons, stopping food, help, or people from getting through until those inside give up or let you enter.
Walid's army besieged the hilltop town before the winter snow arrived.
besiege + place with an attacking force
Government troops besieged the palace and blocked food trucks at dawn.
besiege + defended place; supply line detail
For six weeks, rebel fighters besieged the port and cut off fuel.
The king's soldiers besieged the stone fort until the gates opened.
- relieve
military opposite when outside forces break the siege
文法句型
besiege + place
be besieged by + army / troops
用法筆記
Object is usually a town, fort, palace, or other defended place rather than a person. Most often used in military or historical writing, and often passive when the trapped place is the focus.
常見錯誤
2. to gather tightly around a person or thing in such large numbers that they have
to gather tightly around a person or thing in such large numbers that they have little space or freedom to move away.
Fans besieged Beatriz outside the theater after the final concert.
crowd presses around a person in public
Reporters besieged the minister at the airport and shouted questions.
Shoppers besieged the bakery when fresh strawberry cakes reached the window.
After class, four students besieged Paul for extra exam tips.
- mob
stronger and more chaotic, often with danger or anger
- swarm around
more informal and image-based, like people moving all over the target
- crowd around
neutral everyday phrase without the same strong pressure
- disperse
people move away instead of pressing in
文法句型
besiege + person/thing
be besieged by + crowd
用法筆記
Subject is usually a crowd such as fans, reporters, students, or shoppers. Distinguish from sense 1, where armed forces trap a place over time, and from sense 3, where questions or complaints create the pressure.
常見錯誤
3. to hit someone with so many questions, requests, emails, or complaints that deal
to hit someone with so many questions, requests, emails, or complaints that dealing with them all becomes hard.
Parents besieged the principal with emails after the lunch price increase.
besiege + person + with + messages
Naoko was besieged by phone calls once the apartment ad went online.
passive: be besieged by + calls
The help desk was besieged with complaints during the online payment crash.
After the TV interview, Lauren was besieged by questions about her divorce.
- spare
leave someone free from extra requests or complaints
文法句型
besiege + person + with + requests / complaints
be besieged by + questions / calls
用法筆記
Frequently appears with 'with' or a passive 'by' phrase naming the pressure: questions, emails, requests, or complaints. Distinguish from sense 2, where people physically gather around someone rather than overwhelm them with demands.
常見錯誤
4. to fill someone's mind with fear, worry, guilt, or other painful feelings that w
to fill someone's mind with fear, worry, guilt, or other painful feelings that will not leave them alone.
Since the accident, Padma has been besieged by guilt and sleepless nights.
be besieged by + guilt / emotional pressure
Tomás felt besieged by worry when his son missed the last bus.
After the court letter arrived, Amani was besieged by fresh fears.
During the storm, Sivan felt besieged by panic in the dark hallway.
- reassure
reduce the fear or worry instead of feeding it
文法句型
be besieged by + fear / guilt / worry
feel besieged by + emotion
用法筆記
Most often passive or used after 'feel', with the pressure coming from emotions rather than other people. Distinguish from sense 3, where outside demands cause the pressure.