request 1 of 2

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

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
But under the Florida and Oklahoma laws, any arrest could lead to DNA collection for immigrants subject to federal detainer requests. ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026 At the Tulsa Zoo, which did not respond to requests for comment, Billy and Tina are now part of a crew that includes five other Asian elephants. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
If the law passes, social media platforms would need to create a mechanism by which former child influencers could request deletion. Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Dimon’s comments come as the price tag of the Iran war has skyrocketed, with the Pentagon last week reportedly requesting $200 billion from Congress on top of its existing budget, which exceeds $800 billion. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for request
Recent Examples of Synonyms for request
Noun
  • How will the question appear on the ballot?
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Steyer faced questions about his offshore investments before.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The challenge is balancing future planning with present-day demands without letting the stress compound.
    Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Officials and defense analysts have long said that the constraint is not simply funding, but structural limits in a defense industrial base designed for predictable demand rather than rapid wartime expansion.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, trained to land in hostile territory to secure key positions and airfields, have been ordered to the Middle East.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Denise was ordered to go into the same closet.
    Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The latter, a wry comedy of futile endeavor, was based on a story by Kiarostami, but Haghighi soon sought to shake off Kiarostami’s influence—and, even more, a prevailing caricature of Iranian cinema that Kiarostami’s style had given rise to.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Under California law, prisoners seeking parole may not be penalized for failing to admit wrongdoing, so Kovacich’s claim of innocence was not used against him, Tellman said.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Police said no additional information is available and asked the public to respect the reporting party's privacy.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Investigators asked anyone with information relevant to this investigation to call the Police Department’s Investigation Bureau at 916-478-8060.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • He was convicted in 2019 of seven felonies, including obstructing a congressional inquiry, lying to investigators under oath and attempting to block witness testimony.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
  • This inquiry into police corruption stems from a dramatic news conference last year by a provincial police officer, who accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and senior police officers of having links with organized crime.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Residents, including Shauna Bell who lives in McCrorey Heights, said some neighbors weren’t invited.
    Desiree Mathurin March 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The nurturing Moon drifts into your 12th House of Solitude, inviting you to pause and seek privacy.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Request.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/request. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on request

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster