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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

plead the Fifth en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (US) To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
  2. (broadly, humorous, informal) To refuse to answer a question, or refuse to speak especially when the response would be embarrassing or uncomfortable.
    • Yo ain't no city in the world like this // An' if you ask how I know, I gots ta plead the fifth (1998, Miami (Will Smith song))

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pleaded the Fifth Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pleaded the Fifth Tense=Past lexicographic
pled the Fifth Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pled the Fifth Tense=Past lexicographic
plead the fifth alternative lexicographic
pleads the Fifth Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
pleading the Fifth Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Synonyms

take the fifth