From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpleadplead /pliːd/ ●●○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something to ask for something that you want very much, in a sincere and emotional way SYN beg ‘Don’t go!’ Robert pleaded.plead for Civil rights groups pleaded for government help.plead with somebody (to do something) Moira pleaded with him to stay.► see thesaurus at ask2 (past tense and past participle pleaded also pled /pled/ especially American English) [intransitive, transitive] lawSCC to state in a court of law whether or not you are guilty of a crimeplead guilty/not guilty/innocent Henderson pled guilty to burglary.3 → plead ignorance/illness/insanity etc4 [transitive] writtenASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO something to give reasons why you think something is true or why something should be doneplead that Managers pleaded that there was not enough time to make the changes. Residents successfully pleaded their case at a council meeting.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
plead• "You've got to help me, " Magruder pleaded.• The wife of one of the hostages appeared on TV last night to plead for her husband's life.• He was ousted, tried, pleaded good intentions, and was acquitted.• He plead guilty and was fined $ 240.• The study excluded cases in which defendants pleaded guilty or no contest, and it did not involve new interviews with defendants.• "Please forgive me, " she pleaded "I'll never do it again."• She had pleaded, more than truthfully, a headache, and had settled to read.• He's going to plead my health and my state.• "How do you plead?" "Not guilty, your honor."• Their speeches had a pitiful, pleading quality about them, exacerbating the problem.• Terror stricken; the little pimp had pleaded with him, offered him money.• Parker pleaded with his supporters in the crowd to remain calm.• Now it is pleading with the banks to reschedule £250m of borrowings to keep the company afloat.plead for• Regional officials have come to Washington, pleading for assistance.plead guilty/not guilty/innocent• Davis has pleaded not guilty in his trial.• Davis, who has pleaded not guilty, is facing a possible death sentence.• Bulger court case starts Two ten-year-old boys have pleaded not guilty to the abduction and murder of the toddler, James Bulger.• Whitacre pleaded not guilty to the embezzlement charges Wednesday in Urbana, Ill.• Green had pleaded not guilty to the murder at the couple's home in October 1991.plead that• Quinn pleaded that Daley crack down harder, that the police open up.• A defendant who pleads that he was erroneously convicted is putting up a positive case and can be asked for particulars.• Or you might plead that it was not slanderous because it was true.• She pleaded that she did not do it and her husband's inconsistencies and contradictions aroused suspicion.• Emerson recognized the enemy and recoiled against it, pleading that the nation be rebuilt solely on the rights of man.• Taylor pleaded that the proposal would cost the city too much money.• At the same time we wrote to Trafalgar House, pleading that the School be retained.• Six times in eight years he pleaded that they send him and six times they turned him down.• Among other findings, the court ruled that defendants could plead that they were just following orders.From Longman Business Dictionarypleadplead /pliːd/ verb (past tense and past participle pleaded or pled /pled/) [intransitive, transitive]LAW to state in a court of law whether you are guilty of a crime or notCharged with fraud for selling the fakes, they agreed to plead guilty (=to admit that they did the crime).He pleaded no contest to (=said that he would not defend himself against) two assault charges and resigned his office in disgrace.→ See Verb tableOrigin plead (1200-1300) Old French plaidier, from plaid; → PLEA 