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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."
Examples of behest in a Sentence
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
While anger with Israel is high among Lebanese, many have openly criticized Hezbollah for attacking Israel at Iran’s behest.
—Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
Even the rental building in the complex got stripped of its lettering at the tenants’ behest.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 29 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Behest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behest. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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behest
noun
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