entreat
gb/ˈɛntɹˈit/ us/ˈɛntɹˈit/
C1
English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
ask earnestly or beg
To ask someone in a very serious and emotional way to do something for you.
Usage pattern:
to entreat [someone] to do [something]
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "entreat" with "treat" because they look similar, but "treat" means to behave toward someone in a certain way or to give someone medical care, while "entreat" means to beg or ask very seriously. Another common mistake is using it in casual speech where "ask" or "beg" would sound more natural; "entreat" is mainly used in formal or literary contexts. Learners may also forget to include a person as an object, saying *"I entreat to go"* instead of "I entreat you to let me go."
Synonyms
implore (Very close in meaning; often slightly more emotional and desperate in tone.)
|
beg (More common and less formal; can sound more desperate or weaker socially.)
|
plead (Emphasizes arguing or asking strongly, sometimes in a legal or serious personal context.)
Antonyms
refuse (Opposite in interaction: instead of urgently asking for something, you firmly say no.)
|
demand (Contrasts in tone: a demand is strong and forceful, while an entreaty is humble and pleading.)
Collocations
entreat someone
|entreat someone to do something
|humbly entreat
|entreat mercy
|entreat the court
|earnestly entreat
Themes
communication
|emotions
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wrote to the president to entreat him to reconsider the decision.
- I entreat you to listen carefully before you judge his actions.
- The villagers gathered to entreat the authorities for clean drinking water.
- His lawyer rose to entreat the court for leniency in sentencing.
- They fell to their knees to entreat the kidnappers to spare the child.
Learner examples
- I entreat you to stay with us tonight.
- The man came to the king to entreat him for help.
- They entreat the doctor to see their sick child quickly.
- Her friends entreat her to tell the truth.
- We entreat our teachers to give us more time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
entreat
IPA
GB/ˈɛntɹˈit/
US/ˈɛntɹˈit/
Syllables & stress
en - treat (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (en)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: entreat
- 3rd Person Singular: entreats
- Present Participle: entreating
- Past: entreated
Word family
Forms
entreats
verb
entreating
verb
entreated
verb
Core family
entreaty
noun C1
Advanced or less common
entreatingly
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.