besiege

[ bih-seej ]

verb (used with object)

, be·sieged, be·sieg·ing.

1. to lay siege to.
2. to crowd around; crowd in upon; surround:

   Vacationers besieged the travel office.

3. to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

   Synonyms: hound, harry, harass, pester, beset

besiege

/ bɪˈsiːdʒ /

verb

1. to surround (a fortified area, esp a city) with military forces to bring about its surrender
2. to crowd round; hem in
3. to overwhelm, as with requests or queries

Derived Forms

• beˈsieger, noun

Other Words From

• be·siege·ment noun
• be·sieg·er noun
• be·sieg·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of besiege¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bysegen; be-, siege

Example Sentences

A letter sent to the Israeli government demanded the country end the isolation of the besieged north, where aid groups warn that civilians are being starved amid Israel’s military offensive.

From BBC

Airlines have been besieged by unruly passengers this year, the FAA said, citing roughly 1,700 incidents to date.

From Los Angeles Times

Nevine, the paramedic, explained that they had been "besieged" at the school for 16 or 17 days.

From BBC

One senior nurse - in a message heard by the BBC - speaks in an exhausted voice of relentless privations allegedly imposed by the Israelis besieging Jabalia.

From BBC

It quotes military sources as saying it came down in the Malha area, near the border with Chad, en route to the besieged city of el-Fasher.

From BBC

Related Words

• beleaguer
• beset
• blockade
• encircle
• hem in
• trap