plead

/pliːd/ (bre, ipa) · /pliːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈplēd/ (ame, mw)

plead — verb

  • pleadpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • pleadshe / she / it
  • pleadedpast simple
  • pledpast simple
  • pleading-ing form

1. to ask someone in a strong, emotional way for something you really want or need,

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to ask someone in a strong, emotional way for something you really want or need, often because you are desperate.

例句

Maya pleaded with her father to let her keep the stray puppy.

plead with + person + to-infinitive

The villagers pleaded for clean water after the flood ruined their wells.

plead for + noun (the thing wanted)

同義詞
  • beg

    more everyday and direct; can take a direct object ('begged him').

  • implore

    very formal and literary; stronger emotional weight than plead.

  • entreat

    formal, slightly old-fashioned; common in writing rather than speech.

反義詞
  • demand

    asks with authority rather than emotion or desperation.

  • refuse

    opposite act — declining rather than asking.

文法句型

plead with + person + to-infinitive

plead for + noun

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'with' before the person being asked, and 'for' before the thing wanted. Rarely takes a direct object the way 'beg' does — say 'plead with him' rather than 'plead him'.

常見錯誤

❌She pleaded him to stay.
✅She pleaded with him to stay.
💡'plead' takes 'with' before the person, not a direct object.
❌He pleaded a job from his uncle.
✅He pleaded with his uncle for a job.
💡use 'for' to introduce what is being requested.

2. during a criminal trial, to give the court your formal answer to a charge — eith

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

during a criminal trial, to give the court your formal answer to a charge — either admitting it, denying it, or naming a specific legal defense such as insanity.

例句

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all four charges of fraud.

plead + (not) guilty + to + charge

Marcus pleaded guilty in exchange for a shorter sentence.

plea bargain context

同義詞
  • answer

    general legal term for responding to a charge; less specific.

  • admit

    implies confessing guilt; 'plead guilty' is the formal court act.

  • deny

    covers 'plead not guilty' but is more general and used outside court too.

反義詞
  • contest

    to actively fight a charge in court rather than enter a plea.

文法句型

plead guilty / not guilty / no contest

plead + noun (insanity / self-defense)

用法筆記

Only sense that pairs with 'guilty' / 'not guilty' / 'no contest' as a complement, and the only one with 'to' marking the specific charge. Distinguish from sense 1 — here the speaker is not asking for anything, only giving a legal answer.

常見錯誤

❌He pleaded that he was guilty.
✅He pleaded guilty.
💡use the bare adjective straight after 'plead', not a that-clause.
❌She pleaded against the charges.
✅She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
💡the preposition is 'to' the charges, not 'against'.

3. to publicly argue in support of a person, group, or idea, often by giving reason

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to publicly argue in support of a person, group, or idea, often by giving reasons why others should agree or help.

例句

The senator pleaded the cause of small farmers during the budget debate.

plead + the cause of + group

Dr. Tanaka has spent ten years pleading the case for cleaner rivers in her region.

plead the case for + issue

同義詞
  • advocate

    broader and more neutral; common in political and policy writing.

  • champion

    stronger commitment over time; suggests a public spokesperson role.

  • argue for

    everyday alternative; less formal than plead a case.

反義詞
  • oppose

    to argue against rather than for the position.

文法句型

plead + noun (a case / a cause)

plead + for / against + noun

用法筆記

Almost always takes 'case' or 'cause' as the object — these are the natural collocations. Frequent in journalism and political writing about advocacy.

常見錯誤

❌He pleaded about cleaner energy.
✅He pleaded the case for cleaner energy.
💡needs a noun like 'case' or 'cause' as object.

4. to give a particular condition — such as illness, lack of knowledge, or lack of

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to give a particular condition — such as illness, lack of knowledge, or lack of money — as the reason why you cannot or did not do something.

例句

Marcus pleaded illness and skipped the office party on Friday night.

plead + noun (excuse) + and + clause

When asked about the missing files, the assistant pleaded ignorance.

plead ignorance — common fixed collocation

同義詞
  • claim

    more neutral; doesn't imply doubt about the truth of the excuse.

  • cite

    formal; presents the reason as evidence rather than as a personal excuse.

  • use as an excuse

    everyday paraphrase; less concise than 'plead'.

反義詞
  • admit

    to acknowledge rather than offer a covering reason.

文法句型

plead + noun (ignorance / illness / poverty)

用法筆記

Object is almost always a state or condition (illness, ignorance, poverty, exhaustion, a prior commitment). Often carries a hint that the speaker doubts the excuse is fully true, especially in 'plead poverty' or 'plead ignorance'.

常見錯誤

❌She pleaded that she was tired.
✅She pleaded tiredness.' / 'She said she was too tired.
💡'plead' in this sense takes a noun, not a that-clause.
❌He pleaded for ignorance.
✅He pleaded ignorance.
💡no preposition between 'plead' and the named excuse.