entreat

Imagine a lost traveler, desperate for shelter from a storm. They do not just ask for help; they beg the homeowner with real feeling and urgency. To entreat is more than making a simple request. It means asking in a deeply sincere and often emotional way. You might entreat a friend to forgive you after a misunderstanding, or a leader might entreat people to stay calm during a crisis. It suggests that the result truly matters and that the speaker cares very much about what they are asking for. Think of it as a heartfelt plea.

To entreat means to ask someone earnestly or urgently, often pleading with them to do something or begging them not to do something. It is more intense than simply asking or requesting. The word suggests deep feeling and sometimes even desperation on the part of the person making the request.

The word also has a slightly old-fashioned or literary feel. It often appears in stories, especially in scenes of high drama or moral conflict. Think of pleas for mercy in Shakespeare or desperate cries for help in classic novels. You might request that a coworker cover your shift, but you would entreat them if dealing with a family emergency depended on it.

Entreat is not limited to dramatic situations, though. You could entreat a child to eat their vegetables, or entreat a friend to keep quiet about something important. The key is the sincerity and urgency behind the request. It suggests that you are making yourself vulnerable and hoping strongly for a positive response.

So if someone is not just asking, but begging, pleading, and pouring their heart into a request, they are entreating.