claim
Americanverb (used with object)
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claims,
present (3rd person singular)
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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
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claims
plural
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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
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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
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to demand as being due or as one's property; assert one's title or right to
he claimed the record
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(takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to assert as a fact; maintain against denial
he claimed to be telling the truth
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to call for or need; deserve
this problem claims our attention
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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
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a right or just title to something; basis for demand
a claim to fame
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to assert one's possession of or right to
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anything that is claimed, esp in a formal or legal manner, such as a piece of land staked out by a miner
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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
-
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a demand for payment in connection with an insurance policy, etc
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the sum of money demanded
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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
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claimernoun
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superclaimnoun
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misclaimverb (used with object)
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overclaimverb (used with object)
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preclaimverb (used with object)
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claimableadjective
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claimlessadjective
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nonclaimableadjective
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unclaimedadjective
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unclaimingadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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claimsimple
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claimssimple
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have claimedperfect
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has claimedperfect
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am claimingprogressive
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are claimingprogressive
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is claimingprogressive
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have been claimingperfect progressive
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has been claimingperfect progressive
Past
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claimedsimple
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had claimedperfect
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was claimingprogressive
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were claimingprogressive
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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
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Argumentative Writing
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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:
Kyiv has not officially commented on Musk's latest claim but Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov said his post was "very strange".
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
So began Naftogaz’s secret global search for Russian assets that could be seized to cover its claim, with help from Covington and multiple law firms in other countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
The £1,906 court claim against Rosey was dropped following publicity about the case.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
The rule was intended to target cardholders who try to claim bonus points by applying for the same card multiple times.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
She strode off with a cackle, to claim her spot front and center.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
The Sun carries more claims about the letter sent to the Met Police about Thomas Markle from his first wife.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Our senses are dulled by an excessive number of “crisis” claims that don’t pan out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
“We disagree with the claims and intend to defend this case fully,” an Anthropic spokesperson said in a statement Sunday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
She claims concrete foundations and trenches for access roads have prevented rainwater from draining towards the sea.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
I want to say she’s lost it, but I can’t discount her claims so easily.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Alpine's Pierre Gasly claimed the final points positions in ninth and 10th.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
Herodotus, writing around the same time as Euripides, described Medea’s final expedition to the Iranian plateau, and claimed it gave the Medes their name.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
"I looked at the database and saw this small island in the eastern Caribbean called Grenada that various members of the Trevelyan family had claimed compensation for the loss of what was termed their property."
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
On Friday, Meghan's half-brother claimed to the Sun he found a stash of images belonging to his father at his former Philippines home.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
Perugia claimed he couldn’t have stolen the Mona Lisa; he said he’d been at work the morning of the theft.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
The owners of rights to much of Elvis Presley’s song catalog have sued Anthropic, claiming the artificial-intelligence giant used his songs without permission to train its online agent Claude.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, has also defended their father, accusing their brother Thomas Jr. of fabricating the allegations for financial gain and claiming the computers had been outside their father’s possession for two years.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
The paper says Burnham is considering exempting care workers from a proposal to extend the qualifying period for claiming indefinite leave to remain from five years to 15 years.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Like breath strips, they dissolve on the tongue, claiming a faster way to better sleep, healthier skin and other benefits.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
From what I can see, it looks like the document is claiming that Dr.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
