# behest

> English word · Noun · IPA /bɪˈhɛst/ · frequency rank #29,184

## Definitions
1. A command, bidding; sometimes also, an authoritative request; now usually in the phrase at the behest of and at one's behest.
2. A vow; a promise.

## Etymology
From Middle English biheste, from Old English behǣs (“vow, promise”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaisi, from *bi- (“be-”) + *haisi (“command”), from Proto-Germanic *haisiz, from *haitaną (“to command”). Final -t by analogy with other similar words in -t. Related to Old English behātan (“to command, promise”), Middle Low German beheit, behēt (“a promise”). Compare also hest (“command”), hight.

## Easily confused with
- **best** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-best)
- **beset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-beset)
- **beret** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-beret)
- **Brest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-brest)
- **bereft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-bereft)
- **bequest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behest-vs-bequest)
- **bees** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bees-vs-behest)
- **beet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beet-vs-behest)
- **beast** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beast-vs-behest)
- **behead** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/behead-vs-behest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`bbehest`, `beehst`, `behesst`, `behestt`, `behets`, `behhest`, `behset`, `bheest`, `ebhest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/behest