pleading: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal in legal contexts; neutral to slightly formal in emotional/appeal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “pleading” mean?
The act of making an earnest or emotional appeal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of making an earnest or emotional appeal; a formal statement in a legal case.
1) (Legal) A formal written statement in a lawsuit, outlining claims or defences. 2) (Adjective) Expressing a humble, earnest, or beseeching manner, often through tone or facial expression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In legal contexts, the system of pleadings (statements of case) is largely similar. The adjective describing a manner is used equally. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English to describe a facial expression ('a pleading look'). In American legal dramas, the term is very frequent.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, with a slight edge in American English due to higher volume of legal media.
Grammar
How to Use “pleading” in a Sentence
pleading with [someone] for [something/to do something]pleading for [mercy/help/understanding]a pleading [expression/letter/glance]file/submit a pleadingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pleading” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was pleading with the council for a reprieve.
- She pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.
American English
- He's pleading with the judge for leniency.
- They pleaded the Fifth to avoid self-incrimination.
adverb
British English
- 'Please don't go,' she said pleadingly.
- He looked at her pleadingly.
American English
- She asked pleadingly for one more chance.
- He spoke pleadingly to the board members.
adjective
British English
- The dog sat by the table with a pleading expression.
- Her voice was soft and pleading.
American English
- He shot her a pleading glance across the room.
- The letter ended with a pleading request for funds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical use ('The CEO's pleading for more time fell on deaf ears').
Academic
Common in law and legal studies texts; occasionally in literature or sociology analysing appeals or power dynamics.
Everyday
Used to describe a very earnest request or a beseeching facial expression ('She gave me a pleading look to stay').
Technical
A precise term in civil procedure law, referring to formal documents like complaints, answers, and replies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pleading”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pleading”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pleading”
- Using 'pleading' as a main verb (e.g., 'I am pleading him' is incorrect; correct: 'I am pleading *with* him').
- Confusing 'pleading' (noun/adj.) with 'plea' (noun) — a 'plea' is a single instance, 'pleading' can be the activity or legal document.
- Misspelling as 'pleeding'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it strongly implies a sense of urgency, need, or inferior power position. It can be positive in contexts like pleading for a cause one believes in.
Yes, primarily as an adjective ('a pleading look') or noun describing an emotional appeal ('I'm tired of his constant pleading'). The legal sense is strictly formal.
A 'plea' is typically a single, specific request or, in law, a defendant's answer of 'guilty' or 'not guilty'. 'Pleading' is the broader activity or, in law, the formal document(s) containing the parties' claims/defences.
It is used attributively (before a noun: 'pleading eyes') or predicatively (after a linking verb: 'His voice was pleading'). It describes a manner that begs or implores.
The act of making an earnest or emotional appeal.
Pleading is usually formal in legal contexts; neutral to slightly formal in emotional/appeal contexts. in register.
Pleading: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpliːdɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpliːdɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Plead the Fifth (US, verb idiom, related)”
- “on bended knee (conceptually related, but not containing 'pleading')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person on their knees, PLEADING: "PLEASE, LEND me an ear, I'm begGING." (Plea-ding = Plea + ing).
Conceptual Metaphor
PLEADING IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN (carry a plea, weighed down by pleading); PLEADING IS A SUBMISSIVE GESTURE (bowing, kneeling metaphorically).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pleading' used as a technical, uncountable noun referring to a stage of a lawsuit?