claim
Americanverb (used with object)
-
claims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
claimed,
past participle, past
-
claiming
present participle
-
to demand by or as by virtue of a right; demand as a right or as due.
to claim an estate by inheritance.
-
to assert and demand the recognition of (a right, title, possession, etc.); assert one's right to.
to claim payment for services.
-
to assert or maintain as a fact.
She claimed that he was telling the truth.
-
to require as due or fitting.
to claim respect.
verb (used without object)
-
claims,
present (3rd person singular)
-
claimed,
past participle, past
-
claiming
present participle
noun
-
claims
plural
-
a demand for something as due; an assertion of a right or an alleged right.
He made unreasonable claims on the doctor's time.
- Synonyms:
- call, requisition, request
-
an assertion of something as a fact.
He made no claims to originality.
-
a right to claim or demand; a just title to something.
His claim to the heavyweight title is disputed.
-
something that is claimed, especially a piece of public land for which formal request is made for mining or other purposes.
-
a request or demand for payment in accordance with an insurance policy, a workers' compensation law, etc..
We filed a claim for compensation from the company.
idioms
verb
-
to demand as being due or as one's property; assert one's title or right to
he claimed the record
-
(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to assert as a fact; maintain against denial
he claimed to be telling the truth
-
to call for or need; deserve
this problem claims our attention
-
to take
the accident claimed four lives
noun
-
an assertion of a right; a demand for something as due
-
an assertion of something as true, real, or factual
he made claims for his innocence
-
a right or just title to something; basis for demand
a claim to fame
-
to assert one's possession of or right to
-
anything that is claimed, esp in a formal or legal manner, such as a piece of land staked out by a miner
-
law a document under seal, issued in the name of the Crown or a court, commanding the person to whom it is addressed to do or refrain from doing some specified act former name writ 1
-
-
a demand for payment in connection with an insurance policy, etc
-
the sum of money demanded
-
Usage
What does claim mean? To claim something is to maintain that the something is a fact, as in The company claims its product cures hiccups. A claim is the assertion of a fact, as in The claim that Shayna has a beautiful voice was proved when she began to sing. To claim is also to demand one’s right to something, such as to claim payment for a service given. As a noun, this claim can be the demand for that something, such as a claim on your time. Example: My ancestors laid claim to this land decades ago and I don't plan on letting it go any time soon.
Synonym Usage
See demand.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
claimernoun
-
superclaimnoun
-
misclaimverb (used with object)
-
overclaimverb (used with object)
-
preclaimverb (used with object)
-
claimableadjective
-
claimlessadjective
-
nonclaimableadjective
-
unclaimedadjective
-
unclaimingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
claimsimple
-
claimssimple
-
have claimedperfect
-
has claimedperfect
-
am claimingprogressive
-
are claimingprogressive
-
is claimingprogressive
-
have been claimingperfect progressive
-
has been claimingperfect progressive
Past
-
claimedsimple
-
had claimedperfect
-
was claimingprogressive
-
were claimingprogressive
-
had been claimingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of claim
First recorded in 1250–1300; (verb) Middle English claimen, from Anglo-French, Old French claimer, from Latin clāmāre “to cry out”; (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French cla(i)me; the noun is derivative of the verb
Explanation
When you express your right to something, you're making a claim to it, like telling your sister, "This bowl of cereal is mine." A claim is when you express your right to something that belongs to you, like your medical records or the deed to your home. When you make a claim or claim something, you're demanding it or saying it’s true. People claim dependents and deductions on their taxes. In court, you could claim you deserve money from an employer who cheated you. You could claim you can juggle chainsaws. With any kind of claim, you're going to have to prove it.
Vocabulary lists containing claim
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Argumentative Writing
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The rightful owner has five years to claim the hoard under Belgian law - though the local prosecutor, who has launched an investigation, said it was not yet known who this might be.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Non-itemizers can now claim a new $2,000 charitable deduction each year over five years, that’s $10,000 in deductions, worth roughly $2,200.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
Everyone promoting anything wants to claim that their product made history.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Viral social media posts claim peptides can offer a range of seemingly miraculous benefits including glowing skin, stronger muscles, deeper sleep, a more alert mind -- and even provide an avenue to prevent ageing.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Eliana sounds like a teacher who’s talking to a kid who has the nerve to claim they didn’t know about a research project they should have been working on for weeks.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
"Gomez purported to sign a contract obligating her to perform and then ignored it," the lawsuit claims.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Among the most vulnerable sectors, she cited agriculture and heavy industry as they deal with water scarcity and higher input prices, as well as insurance if firms face higher claims.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
After a brief interrogation, and contrary to Dan’s previous claims, Bill admitted involvement with the superstore.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
The dealership claims it is owed at least $25 million in damages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Soon the beach Cullen was patrolling would be crowded with vacationers staking their claims on the sand with colorful towels and umbrellas.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Meanwhile, some of the victories the division has claimed predate its work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Flock has claimed the company will reform its policies to address these issues, but history suggests it would be unwise to trust them.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Li, the company's vice president, claimed these were based on standards used in the pharmaceutical industry.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
The 35-year-old claimed bronze in the men's 50m freestyle at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and told France TV: "Two years later, I'm announcing the end."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Booth claimed the most notorious part in the plot for himself.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
It is 12 years since Hudson-Smith won the first of his European Championship medals, claiming 400m silver on his debut in 2014.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
It also eliminated an earlier loophole that allowed stonecutting manufacturers to dodge safety requirements by claiming that protective steps weren’t feasible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
This additional income enabled me to delay claiming my own Social Security benefits until 70.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Great Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith wrote his name in history as the joint-most decorated man of all-time at European Championships by claiming a dominant 400m gold on his childhood track in Birmingham.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Despite all the crazy of the last few months, everything I’ve been working for is finally within my grasp, and I’m not going to let anyone or anything get in my way of claiming it.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
