Meaning & use
imploringly
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a way that begs earnestly for help, mercy or a favor.
Grammar: Usually follows a verb of looking or speaking: looked imploringly.
Patterns
- look imploringly at someone
- say something imploringly
The child looked imploringly at her mother for one more story.
He held out his hands imploringly.
"Please stay," she said imploringly.
adverbnot comparableliterary
With a pleading tone or manner that shows deep urgent need.
Grammar: Often modifies verbs of communication such as ask, call or write.
Patterns
- ask imploringly
- write imploringly
The letter ended imploringly, with a request for forgiveness.
The crowd called imploringly to the rescuers.
The dog whined imploringly outside the door.
Common combinations
- look imploringly
- The puppy looked imploringly at the plate of food.
- gaze imploringly
- He gazed imploringly at the judge.
- say imploringly
- "Don't go," she said imploringly.
- reach out imploringly
- The old man reached out imploringly to the passers-by.
- glance imploringly
- She glanced imploringly at her friend for help.
Synonyms and how they differ
- pleadingly
- Pleadingly is plainer and a bit lighter, while imploringly feels more urgent and intense.
- beseechingly
- Beseechingly is more literary and old-fashioned.
- entreatingly
- Entreatingly is formal and rare, suggesting a sincere request.
- desperately
- Desperately stresses hopeless need rather than the act of begging.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: imploringly or implicitly?
imploringly vs implicitly
Implicitly means without being stated directly, not begging.
Practice
The little boy looked ______ at his father, hoping to stay up past bedtime.
Choose one answer.
Imploringly describes a begging look. Implicitly and immensely do not describe how someone looks, and impatiently suggests restlessness, not pleading.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “imploringly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.