require

verb

re·​quire ri-ˈkwī(-ə)r 

required; requiring

transitive verb

1

a

: to claim or ask for by right and authority

b

archaic : request

2

a

: to call for as suitable or appropriate

the occasion requires formal dress

b

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

all living beings require food

3

: to impose a compulsion or command on : compel

4

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

Synonyms

• bear
• challenge
• claim
• demand
• necessitate
• need
• take
• want
• warrant

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

Example Sentences

the toy requires four batteries, which are not included

Recent Examples on the Web

The prompts require students to approach topics with ingenuity and originality. —Christopher Rim, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023

Terms of Delvey’s home confinement require an ankle monitor and prevent her from using social media, but filming a TV series is apparently fair game. —Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2023

The three major cable news channels require a pay TV subscription to watch live. —Stephen Battaglio Los Angeles Times (tns), al, 25 Jan. 2023

Many of the largest U.S. employers require doctor’s notes, a form of medical documentation intended to prove the legitimacy of an illness. —Hirsh Chitkara, The New Republic, 25 Jan. 2023

Those are the only two bags with external pockets — the others all require a full unzipping to access anything inside. —Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023

Does the content of the meeting require engagement and interaction? —Danielle Abril, Washington Post, 25 Jan. 2023

Their newest offers require a minimum $10 deposit and a $5 bet on any market offered by FanDuel. —Chris Ilenstine, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2023

Both of these state laws require platforms to carry speech that the platforms don’t want to. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2023

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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

Kids Definition

require

verb

re·​quire ri-ˈkwī(ə)r 

required; requiring

1

: to have a need for

a game that requires skill

2

: order entry 1 sense 2a

the law requires that everyone pay the tax