petitioned
petitioned — noun
1. a paper or online document that collects the signatures of many people who want
a paper or online document that collects the signatures of many people who want a government, company, or other organisation to change a policy or take a specific action
More than ten thousand residents signed a petition asking the town council to protect the old park.
sign + petition + asking [authority] to [action]
A petition calling for smaller class sizes was handed to the school board last Tuesday.
The students created an online petition against the rule that banned phones during breaks.
Folake spent the weekend collecting signatures for a petition to save the local clinic from closure.
文法句型
petition + to-infinitive
petition + for + noun phrase
petition + against + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often paired with verbs like 'sign', 'deliver', 'organise', 'circulate' and prepositions 'for' (in support of something) or 'against' (opposing something).
常見錯誤
2. a formal written application submitted to a court of law, asking for a specific
a formal written application submitted to a court of law, asking for a specific legal decision, order, or action
The lawyer filed a petition asking the judge to move the trial to a different city.
file a petition asking [court] to [legal action]
A divorce petition must include details about shared property and any children from the marriage.
Cyrus submitted a custody petition to the family court asking for more time with his daughter.
The bankruptcy petition lists every debt that the company owes to its suppliers and lenders.
- application
broader term; can be for any official permission or request, not only to a court
- appeal
specifically asks a higher court to change a lower court's ruling; narrower in scope
文法句型
petition + to-infinitive
petition + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently appears in legal contexts with verbs such as 'file', 'submit', 'grant', 'dismiss'. Unlike a public petition (noun sense 1), this sense refers to a document directed at a court rather than the general public or government.
常見錯誤
petitioned — verb
- petitionedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- petitioneds3rd person singular
- petitioneding-ing form
- petitionededpast simple
1. to make an official written request to a court, government body, or other author
to make an official written request to a court, government body, or other authority, asking for a specific decision, action, or change
The factory workers petitioned the management for safer equipment and better ventilation.
petition [authority] for [something]
Nora petitioned the city council to install a pedestrian crossing near the school.
The local farmers petitioned the government for financial aid after the third year of drought.
A group of parents petitioned the court to overturn the decision to close the special needs unit.
- appeal
suggests a request to a higher authority, often after a decision has been made; common in legal contexts
- sue
means to take legal action against someone in court, not just to make a request; stronger and more confrontational
- request
more general and less formal; does not imply a written document or a group of supporters
文法句型
petition + noun phrase (authority) + for + noun phrase
petition + noun phrase (authority) + to-infinitive
petition + for + noun phrase
petition + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'for' (what is requested) and 'to' (the authority), or by a to-infinitive clause stating the desired action. This sense covers both public petitions to government bodies and legal petitions to courts.