plead

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

plead — 動詞

  • 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

懇求；央求

情緒激動地強烈請求某事

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.

Maya 懇求父親讓她留下那隻流浪小狗。

plead with + person + to-infinitive

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

洪水毀了水井後，村民們央求外界提供乾淨的飲水。

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

認罪；答辯

在法庭上正式表明認罪或不認罪

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.

被告對四項詐欺罪名都答辯不認罪。

plead + (not) guilty + to + charge

Marcus pleaded guilty in exchange for a shorter sentence.

Marcus 為了換取較輕的刑期而選擇認罪。

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

聲援；力陳

公開為某人或理念辯護爭取支持

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.

那位參議員在預算辯論中為小農發聲力陳。

plead + the cause of + group

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

Dr. Tanaka 已花十年時間為家鄉河川的清淨議題奔走呼籲。

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

藉口；推說

以某種狀況作為理由或藉口

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.

Marcus 推說生病，週五晚上沒去公司聚會。

plead + noun (excuse) + and + clause

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

被問到遺失的檔案時，那位助理推說自己毫不知情。

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.