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

Williams blamed restrictions on charter authorizations imposed by the Legislature at the behest of the powerful California Teachers Association. —The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2025

In his memo to Sassoon, Bove wrote that the decision was made at the behest of Bondi and was motivated by concerns regarding the case's impact on Adams' ability to govern, as well as potential political fallout. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025

The move comes at the behest of the Justice Department, which decided to drop its appeal in the case against the two Trump associates, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, following Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration. —Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025

Themes pick and unpick themselves as neurotically as László Tóth (Adrien Brody) sketches out designs for a community center at the behest of his mercurial patron (Guy Pearce), but Blumberg also constructs a musical journey between characters and across decades with his music. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2025

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

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Kids Definition

behest

noun

be·​hest bi-ˈhest 

: order entry 2 sense 5b, command

built monuments at their ruler's behest