Definition

1. Verb (past tense and past participle of "plead"):
   • To make a plea in court: "pled" is used in legal contexts to indicate that someone formally stated whether they were guilty or not guilty of a charge.
   • To argue a case in court: It can also mean to present arguments for or against a legal case.
   • To beg or entreat earnestly: In non-legal contexts, "pled" means to ask for something with strong emotion or desperation.

Usage Examples

• Legal context:

  • He pled guilty to the charges of theft. (He formally admitted his guilt in court.)
  • The lawyer pled the case before the judge. (The lawyer argued the case in court.)

• Non-legal context:

  • She pled with her parents to let her go to the party. (She begged them earnestly.)
  • They pled for mercy after the accident. (They pleaded desperately for forgiveness or leniency.)

Advanced Usage

• "pled the Fifth": To exercise the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

  • When asked about his involvement, he pled the Fifth. (He refused to answer to avoid self-incrimination.)

• "pled not guilty by reason of insanity": A formal legal plea claiming the defendant was not mentally responsible for their actions.

  • The defendant pled not guilty by reason of insanity. (He argued he was mentally unfit at the time of the crime.)

Variants and Related Words

• Plead (verb, present tense): The base form of the word.

  • I plead with you to reconsider. (I beg you now.)

• Pleading (noun/adj): The act of making a plea; or appearing earnest.

  • His pleading was ignored by the court. (His formal request was rejected.)
  • She gave him a pleading look. (A look showing desperation.)

• Plea (noun): A formal statement in court or an earnest request.

  • The defendant entered a plea of not guilty. (A formal legal statement.)

Synonyms

• Begged: Asked for something with urgency.
  • He begged for forgiveness. (Similar to "pled" in non-legal contexts.)
• Argued: Presented reasons for or against something in court.
  • The attorney argued the case. (Similar to "pled" in legal contexts.)
• Entreated: Asked earnestly and emotionally.
  • She entreated him to stay. (A more formal synonym for "pled" in begging.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Plead with: To beg someone for something.

  • He pled with the judge for a lighter sentence. (He begged the judge earnestly.)

• Plead for: To ask for something desperately.

  • The victims pled for help after the disaster. (They asked for assistance.)

Related Idioms

• Plead a case: To present arguments in court.

  • The defense lawyer pled the case brilliantly. (She argued the case skillfully.)

• Plead ignorance: To claim not to know something as an excuse.

  • He pled ignorance of the law to avoid punishment. (He claimed he didn't know the rules.)