implore

verb

im·​plore im-ˈplȯr How to pronounce implore (audio)
implored; imploring

transitive verb

1
a
: to make an earnest request to (someone) : beg
We earnestly implore you to bow out of the practice of clinical medicine and permit us to get on with our difficult job.William Steinsmith
… electronic highway signs implore Californians to "Save Water" and municipalities impose increasingly draconian conservation measures …Henry I. Miller
b
: to say (something) as a request in a sincere or urgent manner
"Keep your voice down," implored Lupin.J. K. Rowling
… accountability has become a watchword of relief agencies around the world, with new guidelines to help donors know that their aid won't be wasted. Give money, Presidents Bush and Clinton implore, and by implication, leave the rest to professionals.Nancy Gibbs
2
: to ask or beg for (something) earnestly
On this repetition of Mr Mantalini's fatal threat, Madame Mantalini wrung her hands, and implored the interference of Ralph Nickleby …Charles Dickens
To Neapolitans habitually blending pagan and Christian themes, the volcano also became, through its successive manifestations, a personality against whose rages they implored protection from their patron saint …Shirley Hazzard
imploringly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for implore

beg, entreat, beseech, implore, supplicate, adjure, importune mean to ask urgently.

beg suggests earnestness or insistence in the asking.

they begged for help

entreat implies an effort to persuade or to overcome resistance.

entreated me to join them

beseech and implore imply a deeply felt anxiety.

I beseech you to have mercy
implored her not to leave him

supplicate suggests a posture of humility.

with bowed heads they supplicated their Lord

adjure implies advising as well as pleading.

we were adjured to tell the truth

importune suggests an annoying persistence in trying to break down resistance to a request.

importuning viewers for contributions

Examples of implore in a Sentence

Don't go. I implore you. “Think of the children!” he implored.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At the athlete meeting before the event got underway, White implored them not to hold back in their assessments. Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 At the same time, Cunningham implored community members for their support as well, either via donations or by coming in more often to keep the space financially viable. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025 European leaders are imploring Trump to maintain U.S. support for Ukraine despite declining Republican support for the war effort. Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) have implored their members to bring guests who've been affected by Trump's federal funding freeze and his cuts to federal agencies. Stephen Neukam, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for implore

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French implorer, from Latin implorare, from in- + plorare to cry out

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of implore was circa 1550

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Implore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implore. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

implore

verb
im·​plore im-ˈplō(ə)r How to pronounce implore (audio)
-ˈplȯ(ə)r
implored; imploring
: to call upon with a humble request : beseech
implored the manager to give her more responsibility
imploringly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on implore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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