behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

bē-

1

: an authoritative order : command

The meeting was called at the senator's behest.

2

: an urgent prompting

At the behest of her friends, she read the poem aloud.

Did you know?

Behest is an ancient word: it is almost a thousand years old. It was formed from the prefix be- and the verb hātan ("to command" or "to promise"), and its Old English ancestor was used exclusively in the sense of "promise," a now-obsolete meaning that continued on in Middle English especially in the phrase "the land of behest." The "command" meaning of behest is also ancient but it's still in good use, typically referring to an authoritative order. Behest is now also used with a less weighty meaning; it can refer to an urgent prompting, as in "a repeat performance at the behest of the troupe's fans."

Synonyms

• charge
• command
• commandment
• decree
• dictate
• direction
• directive
• do
• edict
• imperative
• injunction
• instruction
• order
• word

Examples of behest in a Sentence

I only made the change at the author's behest.

Recent Examples on the Web

Originally designed at the behest of PanAm pilots, the GMT-Master has gone on to help define the modern travel watch genre. —Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 14 June 2024

At the behest of the Mexican Attorney General's office, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives traced a .50-caliber bullet used by the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG, in 2015 to down a military helicopter − discovering it was supplied by a Portland, Oregon man. —Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

The judge reduced Hendon's criminal trespassing count to a misdemeanor, at the behest of prosecutors, because he was wrongly charged with a felony. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 12 June 2024

As the Republican National Convention draws near, movement pro-lifers are becoming concerned that the party will water down its historic commitment to their cause at the behest of the party’s leader and presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump. —Audrey Fahlberg, National Review, 12 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, promise, command, from Old English behǣs promise, from behātan to promise, from be- + hātan to command, promise — more at hight

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing behest

• at someone's behest
• at the behest of someone

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

: order entry 2 sense 5b, command

built monuments at their ruler's behest