require

verb

re·quire ri-ˈkwī(-ə)r

required; requiring

Synonyms of require next

transitive verb

: to claim or ask for by right and authority

archaic : request

: to call for as suitable or appropriate

the occasion requires formal dress

: to demand as necessary or essential : have a compelling need for

all living beings require food

: to impose a compulsion or command on : compel

chiefly British : to feel or be obliged

—used with a following infinitive

one does not require to be a specialist—

Elizabeth Bowen

intransitive verb

archaic : ask

Choose the Right Synonym for require

demand, claim, require, exact mean to ask or call for something as due or as necessary.

demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

Examples of require in a Sentence

the toy requires four batteries, which are not included

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

And in only one case did the delivery person scan the buyer’s ID, as required by federal law. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024 Reservations are required for each date and will be limited and allocated for Disneyland Holiday Ticketholders. —

Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024 Bettering the blue economy will require striking a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. —

Devika Rao, theweek, 11 Nov. 2024 At a minimum, require a password or biometric scan to unlock the device. —

Kelvin Chan, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for require

Word History

Etymology

Middle English requeren, from Anglo-French requere, from Vulgar Latin *requaerere to seek for, need, require, alteration of Latin requirere, from re- + quaerere to seek, ask

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler

The first known use of require was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Require.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/require. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

require

verb

re·quire ri-ˈkwī(ə)r

required; requiring

: to have a need for

a game that requires skill

: order entry 1 sense 2a

the law requires that everyone pay the tax

Last Updated: 16 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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require

verb

Synonyms

Examples of require in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near require

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition