require

[ ri-kwahyuhr ]

verb (used with object)

, re·quired, re·quir·ing.

1. to have need of; need:

   He requires medical care.

2. to call on authoritatively; order or enjoin to do something:

   to require an agent to account for money spent.

3. to ask for authoritatively or imperatively; demand.

   Antonyms: forgo

4. to impose need or occasion for; make necessary or indispensable:

   The work required infinite patience.

5. to call for or exact as obligatory; ordain:

   The law requires annual income-tax returns.

6. to place under an obligation or necessity:

   The situation requires me to take immediate action.

   Synonyms: necessitate, obligate

7. Chiefly British. to desire; wish to have:

   Will you require tea at four o'clock?

verb (used without object)

, re·quired, re·quir·ing.

1. to demand; impose obligation:

   to do as the law requires.

require

/ rɪˈkwaɪə /

verb

1. to have need of; depend upon; want
2. to impose as a necessity; make necessary

   this work requires precision

3. also intr to make formal request (for); insist upon or demand, esp as an obligation
4. to call upon or oblige (a person) authoritatively; order or command

   to require someone to account for his actions

Usage

The use of require to as in I require to see the manager or you require to complete a special form is thought by many people to be incorrect: I need to see the manager; you are required to complete a special form

Derived Forms

• reˈquirable, adjective
• reˈquirer, noun

Other Words From

• re·quira·ble adjective
• re·quirer noun
• nonre·quira·ble adjective
• prere·quire verb (used with object) prerequired prerequiring
• quasi-re·quired adjective
• unre·quired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of require¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English requiren, from Latin requīrere, equivalent to re- re- ( def ) + -quīrere, combining form of quaerere “to seek, search for”; quest ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of require¹

C14: from Old French requerre , from Vulgar Latin requaerere (unattested) to seek after, from Latin requīrere to seek to know, but also influenced by quaerere to seek

Synonym Study

See demand.

Example Sentences

Lest you require a reminder, most modern scientific experiments are constructed using the scientific method.

From Slate

The majority of those employees who wouldn’t be hit work with agencies whose DOGE-style “reorganizations” would require congressional approval—which isn’t inevitable, since Republicans command only small majorities in the legislative chambers.

From Slate

Ms Gunston, of Bexhill, East Sussex, is now calling for a law to require the owners of certain dog breeds to display a sign outside their house to warn people.

From BBC

Perhaps Gaetz, now out of a job, will have to settle for a position that doesn’t require Senate confirmation — or a gig on Newsmax.

From Salon

She will require Senate confirmation to take up the role.

From BBC

Related Words

• call for
• cause
• compel
• demand
• expect
• instruct
• involve
• obligate
• oblige
• order
• request
• take