petition
[noun]
Synonyms:
- appeal, entreaty, plea, prayer, request, solicitation, suit, supplication
[verb]
Synonyms:
- appeal, adjure, ask, beg, beseech, entreat, plead, pray, solicit, supplicate

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Contrasted words: claim, demand, exact, press (for)
Related Words: request, ask, beg, beseech, entreat, implore, plead, pray, supplicate

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. pe‧ti‧tion¹ /pəˈtɪʃən, pɪˈtɪʃən/ noun [countable]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin petitio, from petere 'to try to get or find']

1. a written request signed by a lot of people, asking someone in authority to do something or change something
petition for/against
a petition against the new road
They wanted me to sign a petition against experiments on animals.
Local residents have drawn up a petition to protest the hospital closure.
petition drive American English (=an attempt to get a lot of people to sign a petition)

2. law an official letter to a law court, asking for a legal case to be considered
petition for
She is threatening to file a petition for divorce.

3. formal a formal prayer or request to someone in authority or to God

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. petition² verb [intransitive and transitive]

1. to ask the government or an organization to do something by sending them a petition
petition somebody to do something
Villagers petitioned the local authority to provide better bus services.
petition against/for
Residents are petitioning against the new road.

2. law or formal to make a formal request to someone in authority, to a court of law, or to God
petition for
More and more couples are petitioning for divorce.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

petition
noun
ADJ. bankruptcy, divorce | protest
VERB + PETITION sign | deliver, file, present, send, submit | draw up, get up, launch, organize, raise | support | hear The petition will be heard tomorrow.
grant Her petition for divorce was granted.
dismiss, oppose, reject The district court has opposed the petition by the local electricity company.
PETITION + VERB call for sth, demand sth, urge sth | oppose sth The petition opposes the closures.
support sth The petition supports the scheme to rebuild the road.
PREP. ~ against We're getting up a petition against the proposed building plans.
~ by/from a petition by local residents
~ for Local government supports the petition for a new hospital.
~ in favour of a petition in favour of reform

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

petition

sign a petition
Five hundred villagers have signed the petition.
draw up a petition (=prepare one)
They are drawing up a petition which will be presented to the Archbishop.
organize a petition
Local residents organized a petition against the closure of the library.
present/deliver a petition
A group of pensioners went to London to present the petition.
a petition calling for something/demanding something
A petition calling for an inquiry was signed by 15,118 people.
a petition opposing something
458 local people signed a petition opposing the move.
a petition drive American English (=an attempt to get a lot of people to sign a petition)
More than 20,000 signatures were gathered by the petition drive.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲