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

Examples of require in a Sentence

the toy requires four batteries, which are not included

Recent Examples on the Web

So, what the head of management at the State Department said is, Elon Musk doesn't have the authority to require State Department employees to answer these questions. —CBS News, 23 Feb. 2025

For instance, European Union regulations require an increasing share of electrified vehicles including sales of more than 60% zero emissions vehicles by 2030 and 100% by 2035. —Energy Innovation: Policy and Technology, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Any return of Western companies to Russia is likely to require an end to the Ukraine conflict, and the removal of extensive sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Russian oil and gas-related activities and entities. —Stanley Reed, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025

Such a strategy required a two-thirds majority on the 15-member council — tough, but not impossible. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for require

• briar
• brier
• buyer
• choir
• crier
• cryer
• drier
• dryer
• eyer
• flier
• flyer
• friar

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