pe·ti·tion
pə-ˈti-shən 
plural petitions
1
a
: a formal written request made to an authority or organized body (such as a court)
filing a petition for divorce
Her defense lawyer had petitioned the court to videotape Scott's testimony about Hearst before he died, but the petition was denied.—
Robert Lipsyte
Robert Lipsyte
b
: a written request or call for change signed by many people in support of a shared cause or concern
Hundreds of contributors and readers signed a petition circulated by the National Book Critics Circle, urging the Post to save the stand-alone section.—Motoko Rich
Motoko RichHer group put together a petition signed by more than 100,000 consumers demanding that regulators crack down on companies who "robocall" consumers using automated dialers and recorded voices to market scams.—Shawn Zeller
Shawn Zeller2
: an earnest request : entreaty
… he begged to sleep with Hareton, and his petition was granted for once.—Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë3
: something asked or requested
petitioned; petitioning
pə-ˈti-sh(ə-)niŋ
; petitions
; petitions
1
transitive
: to make a request to (someone)
especially
: to make a formal written request to (an authority)
His people petitioned the government for permission to use the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. —Taylor Branch
Taylor Branch … to adopt "red-flag" laws, which allow police officers and family members to petition a court to bar dangerous individuals from possessing guns. —Norman J. Ornstein
Norman J. Ornstein 2
intransitive
: to make a request
She neither petitioned for her right nor claimed it.—George Meredith
George Meredith
especially
: to make a formal written request
A year later he moved to Rome and petitioned to join the Jesuits, who gave him a university education and ordained him in 1586. —Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers Synonyms
Examples of petition in a Sentence
Noun
They collected 2,000 signatures on a petition demanding that women be allowed to join the club.
Would you like to sign our petition?
We presented a petition to the legislature to change the law.
She filed a petition for divorce.
We ask you to hear our petition.
Verb
The organization petitioned the government to investigate the issue.
All people had the right to petition the king for help.
She petitioned to join their club.
Recent Examples on the WebJaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2024
Shanahan’s large fortune means that Kennedy likely will have the money to run petition drives in other states, but the outcome won’t be known until later this year.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Meijer's withdrawal from the Senate race on Friday came just ahead of a deadline to do so, three days after party candidates were required to file between 15,000 and 30,000 signatures on nominating petitions for the Aug. 6 primary.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, which filed the petition, said the community should know what happens when a police officer takes a life.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
An online petition calling for the removal of the school's principal, Mary Kapcoe, had more than 700 signaures from parents and others as of Monday afternoon.
—Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2024
The two companies filed a petition soon after the March 26 collapse asking a court to cap their liability under a pre-Civil War provision of an 1851 maritime law — a routine but important procedure for such cases.
—Lea Skene, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
In February, the workers announced their intent to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Assn., which already represents actors, dancers and singers at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Magic United filed a petition Wednesday for a union election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
As of late Wednesday morning, the petition had 370 signatures.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Tara García Mathewson and Maria Puertas, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The family therefore petitioned the court to legally appoint Jean Sievers, the president of PR firm Beachwood Entertainment Collective, and accountant LeeAnn Hard as conservators.
—Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
In 2017, for example, the caucus successfully petitioned then-Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, to remove a statue of Roger B. Taney, the author of the Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision, from the Maryland state house.
—Emi Tuyetnhi Tran, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Mark McNamara petitioned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge Judge Nathanael Cousins’ refusal to grant qualified immunity to the former San Jose Police Department officer.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Those without the lifetime sentence can petition the court after 10 years to terminate their registration.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the law was amended to remove the mail-in ballot option and cap the number of work sites that could be petitioned through card check to 75.
—Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When the Justice Department sought to continue its investigation, the association petitioned to block it.
—Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Munoz was civilly committed to Coalinga State Hospital for treatment and petitioned to be released under supervision in 2021 — a request Judge Gill granted.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
For years, residents across southeast Fort Worth have channeled frustrations about the steady, seemingly relentless industrialization of their communities into petitions, public meetings and protests.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2024
Shanahan’s large fortune means that Kennedy likely will have the money to run petition drives in other states, but the outcome won’t be known until later this year.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2024
Meijer's withdrawal from the Senate race on Friday came just ahead of a deadline to do so, three days after party candidates were required to file between 15,000 and 30,000 signatures on nominating petitions for the Aug. 6 primary.
—Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 26 Apr. 2024
Lauren Bonds, executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, which filed the petition, said the community should know what happens when a police officer takes a life.
—Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2024
An online petition calling for the removal of the school's principal, Mary Kapcoe, had more than 700 signaures from parents and others as of Monday afternoon.
—Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Apr. 2024
The two companies filed a petition soon after the March 26 collapse asking a court to cap their liability under a pre-Civil War provision of an 1851 maritime law — a routine but important procedure for such cases.
—Lea Skene, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
In February, the workers announced their intent to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Assn., which already represents actors, dancers and singers at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Magic United filed a petition Wednesday for a union election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
As of late Wednesday morning, the petition had 370 signatures.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Verb
During senior year of high school, Samuels petitioned the district administration and then the school board to unblock these sites—and won.
—Tara García Mathewson and Maria Puertas, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
The family therefore petitioned the court to legally appoint Jean Sievers, the president of PR firm Beachwood Entertainment Collective, and accountant LeeAnn Hard as conservators.
—Tribune News Service, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024
In 2017, for example, the caucus successfully petitioned then-Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, to remove a statue of Roger B. Taney, the author of the Supreme Court’s infamous Dred Scott decision, from the Maryland state house.
—Emi Tuyetnhi Tran, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Mark McNamara petitioned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to challenge Judge Nathanael Cousins’ refusal to grant qualified immunity to the former San Jose Police Department officer.
—Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Those without the lifetime sentence can petition the court after 10 years to terminate their registration.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Mar. 2024
In 2023, the law was amended to remove the mail-in ballot option and cap the number of work sites that could be petitioned through card check to 75.
—Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
When the Justice Department sought to continue its investigation, the association petitioned to block it.
—Aaron Gregg, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
Munoz was civilly committed to Coalinga State Hospital for treatment and petitioned to be released under supervision in 2021 — a request Judge Gill granted.
—Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'petition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near petition
Cite this Entry
“Petition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/petition. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
petition
1 of 2 noun
pe·ti·tion
pə-ˈtish-ən
1
: an earnest request : entreaty
2
: a formal written request made to a superior or authority
petition
2 of 2 verb
petitioned; petitioning
-ˈtish-(ə-)niŋ
: to make a request to or for
especially
: to make a formal written request
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