Definition
To ask for something persistently and urgently; to beg or pester someone repeatedly for something. To make repeated and annoying requests or demands.
Etymology
From Latin 'importunus' meaning 'unsuitable, troublesome,' from 'in-' (not) + 'portus' (harbor). Originally described something 'not in harbor' — hence restless, troublesome, or persistent like a ship unable to find safe harbor.
Kelly Says
Think of someone who won't stop knocking at your door like a ship that can't find harbor — they keep circling back with the same request. Importuning is being persistently annoying in your requests.
Translations
ARالعربية
إزعاج
ʔi.zʿaːdʒ
BNবাংলা
বিরক্ত করা
birɔkto kɔra
CACatalà
importunar
im.por.tuˈnar
DADansk
generere
ʒeˈneː.ʁe
DEDeutsch
belästigen
bəˈlɛstɪɡən
ELΕλληνικά
ενοχλώ
e.noˈxlo
ESEspañol
importunar
im.por.tuˈnar
FAفارسی
آزار دادن
ɑ.zɑr dɑ.dæn
FISuomi
häiritä
hæiˈri.tæ
FRFrançais
importuner
ɛ̃.pɔʁ.ty.ne
GUGU
તકલીફ આપવી
təkəliːf aː.pə.vi
HEעברית
להטריד
le.ha.tʁid
HIहिन्दी
परेशान करना
pareśān karnā
IDBahasa Indonesia
mengganggu
məŋˈgaŋ.gu
ITItaliano
importunare
im.por.tuˈnaː.re
JA日本語
しつこく頼む
shitsukoku tanomu
KO한국어
성가시게 하다
seong-gasi-ge ha-da
MRMR
त्रास देणे
traːs dɛɳe
MSBahasa Melayu
mengganggu
məŋˈgaŋ.gu
MYမြန်မာ
နှောင့်ယှက်
n̥hɔ̃̀ tɕʰɛʔ
NLNederlands
lastig vallen
lɑstɪx ˈvɑlən
NONorsk
forstyrre
fɔrˈstʏr.rə
PTPortuguês
importunar
ĩ.por.tuˈnar
RORomână
a importuna
a im.por.tuˈna
RUРусский
достаивать
dɐ.staˈi.vætʲ
SVSvenska
besvärja
bɛsˈvær.ja
SWKiswahili
kutatiza
ku.ta.ti.za
TAதமிழ்
துன்புறுத்து
tun̪puṟuttu
TEతెలుగు
వ్యాకోచించు
vjākōciṁcu
TRTürkçe
sataşmak
sa.taʃˈmak
UKУкраїнська
достовбувати
dɔ.stow.buˈwa.tɪ
URاردو
پریشان کرنا
parēśān karnā
VITiếng Việt
làm phiền
lam˨˩ fiən˨˩
YOYO
yin igbese
jin ɪɡˈbe.se
ZUZU
ukwenza kungakhulumi
u.kʷɛnˈza kuŋ.ɡa.kʰuˈlumi
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Historically applied disproportionately to women's advocacy; persistent women's demands reframed as annoyance rather than legitimate.
Inclusive Usage
Use neutrally for persistent requests from any source, or prefer 'persistent request' or 'repeated inquiry'.
Inclusive Alternatives
["persistent request","repeated inquiry","sustained appeal"]