request
Americannoun
-
requests
plural
-
the act of asking for something to be given or done, especially as a favor or courtesy; solicitation or petition.
At his request, they left.
- Synonyms:
- prayer, supplication, entreaty
-
an instance of this.
There have been many requests for the product.
-
a written statement of petition.
If you need supplies, send in a request.
-
something asked for.
to obtain one's request.
-
the state of being asked for; demand.
verb (used with object)
-
requests,
present (3rd person singular)
-
requested,
past participle, past
-
requesting
present participle
-
to ask for, especially politely or formally.
He requested permission to speak.
- Synonyms:
- supplicate, petition
-
to ask or beg; bid (usually followed by a clause or an infinitive).
to request that he leave;
to request to be excused.
-
to ask or beg (someone) to do something.
He requested me to go.
idioms
verb
noun
-
-
the act or an instance of requesting, esp in the form of a written statement; petition or solicitation
a request for a song
-
( as modifier )
a request programme
-
-
in accordance with the specific demand or wish of (someone)
-
in accordance with someone's desire
-
in demand; popular
he is in request in concert halls all over the world
-
on the occasion of a demand or request
application forms are available on request
Synonym Usage
See beg 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
requestsimple
-
requestssimple
-
have requestedperfect
-
has requestedperfect
-
am requestingprogressive
-
are requestingprogressive
-
is requestingprogressive
-
have been requestingperfect progressive
-
has been requestingperfect progressive
Past
-
requestedsimple
-
had requestedperfect
-
was requestingprogressive
-
were requestingprogressive
-
had been requestingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of request
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English requeste (noun), from Old French, from Vulgar Latin requaesita (unrecorded) “things asked for,” noun use of neuter plural past participle of requaerere (unrecorded) “to seek” (literary Latin requīrere require ( def. ) )
Explanation
To request something means to formally ask for it. If you're sick of always getting a middle seat on the airplane, put in a request for the aisle or window next time. You can request something you want, like extra cheese on your pizza, or a better parking space, but you can also "put in a request." Request has a formal quality, as in "request forms." After all, you won't find any "ask forms" out there. Asking for something is one thing, making a request is another. It's more official. If you want to request a certain professor, you'd better put in a request!
Vocabulary lists containing request
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Catching Fire
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The Titan's Curse
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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:
But so far it hasn’t responded formally to Vance’s request to discuss Iran’s nuclear program and hasn’t agreed to a meeting, mediators between the two sides said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
It has not responded to AFP's request for a comment.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
You’re not getting into the emotional or financial reasons for your stepmother making such a request because, frankly, those are none of your business, nor is it your responsibility to plan your stepmother’s retirement.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026
The rule gives patients, families and carers the right to request a rapid review if they are worried that a patient's condition is getting worse and their concerns are not being responded to.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Yet now the urgency of making such a request could not be denied, unless she and the children intended to walk to Swanburne.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
"We are expecting possibly even more requests this year. That's mostly because of the cost-of-living crisis."
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
Kolodin ignored multiple AFP requests for an interview, but during a debate in August, he rejected accusations that he is an "election denier."
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
But it also comes as free press advocates complain that the department’s responsiveness to public records requests has slowed, and as officers increasingly face accusations of targeting journalists in the field during protests.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which oversees export controls, immediately responded to MarketWatch’s requests for comment.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
But Lazlo had many times fulfilled Thyon’s research requests, and once, in the early days, when he’d discovered a rare metallurgical treatise he thought might be of interest, Nero had even said, “Thank you.”
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
In a post on social media, Ruszin-Szendis said that after receiving the bomb threat, the Wizz Air flight had requested permission to land at the airport in Budapest.
From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026
“Since my appointment as CEO in April 2026, I have requested rigorous identification and escalation of project-level risks and opportunities,” Chief Executive Officer Martin Sion said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
Forced out for the last time, Batista flew to Jacksonville and unsuccessfully requested asylum in the U.S.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
The incident report states help also was requested from Corona Urban Search and Rescue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2026
He zealously implemented the reforms requested by Stone that furthered his own desire to remake the bureau into a modern force.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
He said 1,600 grievances logged, mainly from farmers requesting compensation for construction impacts on their crops, were resolved.
From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2026
King began researching chocolatiers throughout the country and requesting samples.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
Late last week, Bogen sent a letter to CDC Director Erica Schwartz requesting that the state’s deaths be counted and demanding answers on how the agency is tracking measles fatalities.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
A soft credit check is a legitimate way for a potential lender to assess your eligibility, but that doesn’t mean the third party requesting it is a legitimate lender.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
The control room sent a message to the emergency response center requesting more batteries so they could open the safety valves and vent the extra steam.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
