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

And it doesn't require any higher levels of political sophistication or commitment.

From Salon

But victory doesn’t require perfection — just an advantage.

From Los Angeles Times

It was submitted to the court on Friday morning, and if approved, will require court oversight of its implementation for the next two years.

From Los Angeles Times

The structures look like a string of stars and require areas with many neighbors to be next to places with only a few neighbors.

From Science Daily

The Scripps Research Institute finding counters prevailing thought that the virus would require multiple mutations before it poses a threat to public health.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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