Plead — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈplēd/

Meaning & Definition of Plead

Plead (verb)

  1. to argue a case or cause in a court of law
  2. to make an allegation in an action or other legal proceeding; especially, to answer the previous pleading of the other party by denying facts therein stated or by alleging new facts
  3. to conduct pleadings

Plead (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

    "can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?"

    similar: argue, assert, contend, maintain, reason
    related: adduce, cite, mention, claim, insist, affirm, aver, avouch, avow, advance, give, offer, propose, submit, advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge, convince, persuade, advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support, explain, justify, rationalize, consider, debate, discuss, confute, counter, disprove, rebut, refute

Related Entry: Pleaded (verb)

Pleaded is a different word from Plead. The synonyms below are for pleaded, not for plead.

  1. to state (something) as a reason in support of or against something under consideration

    "can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?"

    similar: argued, asserted, contended, maintained, reasoned
    related: adduced, cited, mentioned, claimed, insisted, affirmed, averred, avouched, avowed, advanced, gave, offered, proposed, submitted, advised, counseled, recommended, suggested, urged, convinced, persuaded, advocated, championed, defended, enforced, espoused, supported, explained, justified, rationalized, considered, debated, discussed, confuted, countered, disproved, rebutted, refuted

Related Entry: Plead (for) (verb)

Plead (for) is a different word from Plead. The synonyms below are for plead (for), not for plead.

  1. to make a request for

    "the children pleaded for a kitten for Christmas"

    similar: ask (for), bespeak, call (for), desire, quest, request, seek, solicit, speak (for), sue (for)
    related: apply (for), beg (for), claim, clamor (for), importune, urge, wish (for), demand, enjoin, exact, insist (on), petition (for), press (for), require, requisition, invite, invoke

Related Entry: Plead (to) (verb)

Plead (to) is a different word from Plead. The synonyms below are for plead (to), not for plead.

  1. to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

    "weary of charities that are always pleading to people of modest means to contribute even more than they already have"

    similar: appeal (to), beg, beseech, besiege, conjure, entreat, impetrate, implore, importune, petition, pray, solicit, supplicate, call on
    related: bludge (chiefly Australian & New Zealand), cadge, mooch, sponge, ask, desire, invoke, request, claim, coerce, command, compel, demand, force, insist, require
    near: hint, imply, intimate, suggest, appease, conciliate, gratify, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content, quiet

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Plead

The most common words with a similar meaning to Plead:

argue, assert, contend, maintain, reason

Related Words for Plead

adduce, cite, mention, claim, insist, affirm, aver, avouch, avow, advance, give, offer, propose, submit, advise, counsel, recommend, suggest, urge, convince, persuade, advocate, champion, defend, enforce, espouse, support, explain, justify, rationalize

Word Forms of Plead

Inflections: pleaded, pled, pleading

Derived words: pleadable (adjective), pleader (noun), pleadingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Plead

Middle English plaiden, pleden "to contend legally, argue in court, bring suit, answer a charge," borrowed from Anglo-French plaider, pleider, pleder "to maintain (a plea), bring an action against" (also continental Old French), verbal derivative of plaid, plé "action at law, plea."

First known use: 13th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Plead

Words & Phrases Containing Plead

plead the Fifth, plead ignorance

Frequently Asked Questions about Plead

What does "Plead" mean?

"Plead" means to argue a case or cause in a court of law. As a verb, it is defined as: to argue a case or cause in a court of law.

What is another word for "Plead"?

Other words for "Plead" include argue, assert, contend, maintain and reason. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Plead" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Plead"?

There are 43 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Plead". Common alternatives include argue, assert, contend, maintain and reason.

How do you use "Plead" in a sentence?

Examples of "Plead" in a sentence: "can I plead temporary insanity for having made that foolish decision?".

Is "Plead" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Plead" is a verb.

Is "Plead" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Plead" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Plead"?

"Plead" is pronounced /ˈplēd/.

What is the origin of the word "Plead"?

"Plead" comes from Middle English plaiden, pleden "to contend legally, argue in court, bring suit, answer a charge," borrowed from Anglo-French plaider, pleider, pleder "to maintain (a plea), bring an action against" (also continental Old French), verbal derivative of plaid, plé "action at law, plea.". First known use: 13th centuryi.