require

[ ri-kwahyuhr ]

/ rɪˈkwaɪər /

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See synonyms for: require / required / requires / requiring on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), re·quired, re·quir·ing.

to have need of; need: He requires medical care.

to call on authoritatively; order or enjoin to do something: to require an agent to account for money spent.

to ask for authoritatively or imperatively; demand.

to impose need or occasion for; make necessary or indispensable: The work required infinite patience.

to call for or exact as obligatory; ordain: The law requires annual income-tax returns.

to place under an obligation or necessity: The situation requires me to take immediate action.

Chiefly British. to desire; wish to have: Will you require tea at four o'clock?

verb (used without object), re·quired, re·quir·ing.

to demand; impose obligation: to do as the law requires.

OTHER WORDS FOR require

6 obligate, necessitate.

See synonyms for require on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR require

3 forgo.

See antonyms for require on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of require

1300–50; Middle English requiren<Latin requīrere, equivalent to re-re- + -quīrere, combining form of quaerere to seek, search for (cf. quest)

synonym study for require

3. See demand.

OTHER WORDS FROM require

re·quir·a·ble, adjectivere·quir·er, nounnon·re·quir·a·ble, adjectivepre·re·quire, verb (used with object), pre·re·quired, pre·re·quir·ing.

qua·si-re·quired, adjectiveun·re·quired, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use require in a sentence

For instance, it only requires people to wear masks when they’re in indoor public spaces, within six feet of individuals outside their household for, and hanging around for at least 15 minutes.
When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19||November 20, 2020|Popular-Science
Karen herself went from acting to dance, which requires real commitment.
The mind-boggling end of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, explained|Constance Grady|November 20, 2020|Vox
It doesn’t require the majority of the population to reduce infections and save lives.
A covid-fighting tool is buried in your phone. Turn it on.|Geoffrey Fowler|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
One provision in the bill requires public companies to certify to the Securities and Exchange Commission that their products are not made using forced labor from Xinjiang.
Apple is lobbying against a bill aimed at stopping forced labor in China|Reed Albergotti|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

All other personnel working at an NFL game are required to wear masks.
Pennsylvania says all athletes must wear masks while playing. The Steelers say they’re exempt.|Matt Bonesteel|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The next step is requiring 40 hours of training prior to license approval.
A Navy Vet’s Case for Gun Control|Shawn VanDiver|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Colbert motored through the entire shoot, never requiring so much as a second take or flubbing a line.
Ashton Kutcher’s History of Idiocy: Ubergate, Brownface, Joe Paterno, and More|Marlow Stern|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You may have noticed that roughly 100 percent of higher animals reproduce sexually, requiring a male and female partner to do so.
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is perfectly capable of introducing a bill requiring all cars to run on corn stalks instead of gasoline.
Up to a Point: In Defense of Lobbyists|P. J. O’Rourke|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And because of laws requiring collaboration between local police and immigration officers, women like me are afraid to seek help.
Immigrant Women Facing Domestic Abuse Need Stronger Protections|Adriana Cazorla|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Impersonation may be more easily achieved intellectually, requiring only keen observation and the power of imitation.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The non-elastic character of water made it unsuitable for a machine requiring a fly-wheel.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
It was placed immediately over the shaft and pump-rods, requiring no engine-beam.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
When riding along a good road his position was precarious enough, requiring all his best efforts to maintain his balance.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
So also is a rule requiring glass to be boxed though the distance may be short for carrying it.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for require

require

/ (rɪˈkwaɪə) /

verb (mainly tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive)

to have need of; depend upon; want

to impose as a necessity; make necessarythis work requires precision

(also intr) to make formal request (for); insist upon or demand, esp as an obligation

to call upon or oblige (a person) authoritatively; order or commandto require someone to account for his actions

Derived forms of require

requirable, adjectiverequirer, noun

Word Origin for require

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

usage for require

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

require

OTHER WORDS FOR require

OPPOSITES FOR require

Origin of require

synonym study for require

OTHER WORDS FROM require

Words related to require

How to use require in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for require

Derived forms of require

Word Origin for require

usage for require