besiege

UK: /bɪˈsiːdʒ/ US: /bɪˈsidʒ/ ,(bi sēj′)

Inflections of 'besiege' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

besieges

v 3rd person singular

besieging

v pres p

besieged

v past

besieged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•siege /bɪˈsidʒ/   v. [~ + object] , -sieged, -sieg•ing. 

1. to surround and attack:
   The city was besieged for months.
2. to crowd around;
   crowd in upon:
   Vacationers besieged the travel office.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

be•siege  (bi sēj′), v.t., -sieged, -sieg•ing. 

1. to lay siege to.
2. to crowd around;
   crowd in upon;
   surround:
   Vacationers besieged the travel office.
3. to assail or ply, as with requests or demands.

• Middle English bysegen. See be-, siege 1250–1300

be•siege′ment, n. 
be•sieg′er, n. 
be•sieg′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 3. beset, pester, harass, harry, hound.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

besiege / bɪˈsiːdʒ/ verb (transitive)

1. to surround (a fortified area, esp a city) with military forces to bring about its surrender
2. to crowd round; hem in
3. to overwhelm, as with requests or queries

beˈsieger noun