English · Word Candidate

pleading

/ˈpliːdɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: pleadings

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The act of making a plea.

Noun

Examples

But it pleased her to play on my passion / And whet me to pleadings / That won from her mirthful negations / And scornings undue.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A document filed in a lawsuit, particularly a document initiating litigation or responding to the initiation of litigation.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

That pleads.

Adjective

Examples

Franchise, relaxed and soothed by the vagueness of a surrender set so far in the future, simply took hold of his two hands to make him behave himself and looked at him with her pretty pleading eyes — the eyes of a sensitive woman who didn't want to risk having a child by anyone but her husband.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “pleading” mean?

The act of making a plea.

Is “pleading” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.