Definition of requestnext
1
as in question
an act or instance of asking for information the medical columnist is unable to answer individual requests for specific information on various disorders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in demand
the state of being sought after especially for purchase reliable babysitters are much in request, especially on weekends

Synonyms & Similar Words

request

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word request distinct from other similar verbs?

The words ask and solicit are common synonyms of request. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

In what contexts can ask take the place of request?

While in some cases nearly identical to request, ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

When is it sensible to use solicit instead of request?

The words solicit and request are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of request
Noun
My daughter was enchanted by the Balinese rice-on-the-forehead ritual for good fortune that is a part of the arrival, and the front desk staff happily indulged her request to do it again—multiple times a day. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026 Her attorneys did not respond to the Miami Herald’s request for comment on the verdict. — David Goodhue october 1, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
Immediately after the election, DeSantis requested that his staff assemble a binder of information about the powers afforded him as governor. — Liv Coleman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 If a customer changes their mind or finds a better price, Sell Your Gold states that customers can contact the company within 10 calendar days of payment issuance and follow its rescission process to request the return of their items. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for request
Recent Examples of Synonyms for request
Noun
  • His office did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press regarding a possible snap election.
    — JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The question should be how technology can make returning it cheap enough that the government no longer has an excuse.
    — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Fed has long blamed a range of factors for the cost overruns, including a spike in inflation, unexpected expenses such as asbestos remediation, and additional demands from review agencies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Bigger fleet for flight testing Stratolaunch has been expanding its flight operations as demand for hypersonic testing increases.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Four years ago, Tennessee's governor ordered another independent review into capital punishment after abruptly stopping the April 2022 execution of Oscar Smith.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The pool was reportedly ordered to remain closed until further inspection, according to the complaint.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • That additional aircraft could become particularly useful as government and commercial programs seek more frequent flight opportunities.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Although several state attorneys general and local officials are, at the time of writing, seeking to ban prediction markets under state gambling laws, for now Polymarket remains legal.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • As Arkansas families navigate a new education landscape, asking the right questions can help ensure that choice leads not just to change, but to growth, stability, and opportunity for the students who matter most.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Then Teresa gets brought up onstage by the mentalist, who asks her to think of someone meaningful in her life from before the cameras, who nobody in the room would know the name of.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Cassidy, who led the inquiry into Saphier's views on vaccines, ultimately voted in support of her nomination.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Even for Adnan’s biggest fans, the documentary beckons us toward further inquiry, her work a site of continuous discovery in language, both visual and written.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • While online prediction markets were being naturalized, crypto technology was being leveraged in a similar manner by some of the same actors in the realm of art.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Europe’s patchwork of national payment schemes—iDEAL in the Netherlands, Bizum in Spain, Blik in Poland—has resulted in different checkout experiences in each market.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Peggy Tanous isn’t there because she was inexplicably invited to RHUGT instead, and Peggy Sulahian isn’t there because Alex Baskin lost her number the second that season ended.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Tickets are sold with or without a drink pairing, but the vibe is that of being invited to a secret society, a meeting of the world’s foremost minds.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Request.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/request. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!