request
Americannoun
-
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)
-
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
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have requestedperfect
-
has requestedperfect 3rd person singular
-
am requestingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are requestingprogressive
-
has been requestingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
have been requestingperfect progressive
-
requestssingular 3rd person
-
is requestingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
requestingparticiple
Past
-
had requestedperfect
-
requestedsimple
-
were requestingprogressive plural
-
requestedparticiple
-
was requestingprogressive singular
-
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.
Nassar never received the letter, according to an FBI Laboratory Examination Request in 2020.
From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025
Internal documents from Sheffield Hallam University were released under a Subject Access Request to Professor Laura Murphy, whose research is alleged to have been targeted.
From BBC • Nov. 3, 2025
Request supplemental materials, like one-sheeters, that you can take home and review when you’re able to sit and process the information, Caplan said.
From Slate • May 2, 2025
The move from the CBS Broadcast Center to the space once home to MTV’s “Total Request Live” coincided with a new name and breezier tone for the program formerly called “CBS This Morning.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2025
“Colonel? Request permission to go pick up some of our wounded. We left a few boys out there.”
From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara
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.
