Beset means to be surrounded by difficulties or attacked from multiple sides. When problems beset you, they crowd in from all directions, making you feel trapped or overwhelmed. A ship beset by storms faces wind and waves from every angle. A general whose army is beset by enemies must defend against attacks coming from all sides.

The word suggests being hemmed in by multiple problems at once. A student might face one difficult test, but if troubles beset her (a sick family member, lost homework, and a fight with her best friend all in the same week), she's dealing with challenges pressing in from all directions at the same time.

You might read that a medieval castle was beset by invaders or that pioneers were beset by hardships on their journey west. The word often appears in stories about people persevering through tough circumstances. While beset describes difficult situations, it doesn't say anything about the outcome: someone beset by doubts might push through them and succeed, or someone beset by obstacles might find a clever way around them.