What does imploring mean?
Imploring means making an urgent, heartfelt request, often in a way that openly appeals to another person's sympathy or mercy. It can describe a person's face, voice, tone, words, or general behaviour. Someone who is imploring another person is not merely asking; they are asking with conspicuous emotion or desperation. The word is especially common in descriptions of a pleading look or an urgent appeal for help, as in an imploring request for mercy. It comes from implore, which means to ask or beg earnestly. Imploring is often associated with personal appeals rather than routine requests, so it usually carries a note of vulnerability, urgency, or moral pressure.
Making an urgent and emotional appeal; pleading.
"He looked at her with an imploring expression."
Frequently used to modify expressions, looks, voices, and gestures that communicate an earnest or desperate request.
The present participle of implore: asking someone earnestly or begging them to do something.
"She was imploring the officials to release the prisoners."
Used as a participle in an ongoing action, often with a subject who is making a serious or emotional appeal.
From the Latin implorare, an imploring appeal literally called upon someone, often in the hope of changing their decision.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does imploring come from?
The word derives from Latin implorare, formed from in- and plorare, meaning "to call upon" or "to cry out." In English, implore developed into a verb meaning to ask or beg earnestly, especially for help or mercy. The related noun imploration and the adjective imploratory reflect the same Latin source, while the present participle imploring came directly into use as an adjective.
Related word forms
How imploring is actually used
The word is strongly emotional and usually suggests urgency, desperation, or a sincere appeal. It is commonly used with words such as "look," "voice," "tone," and "expression," and is more formal or literary when describing an extended appeal.