First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1request
noun re·quest \ri-ˈkwest\
: an act of politely or formally asking for something
: something (such as a song) that a person asks for
Full Definition of REQUEST
1
: the act or an instance of asking for something
2
: something asked for <granted her request>
3
: the condition or fact of being requested <available on request>
4
: the state of being sought after : demand
See request defined for English-language learners
See request defined for kids
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Origin of REQUEST
Middle English requeste, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *requaesta, from feminine of requaestus, past participle of requaerere to require
Rhymes with REQUEST
abreast, abscessed, appressed, armrest, arrest, at best, at rest, attest, backrest, beau geste, bed rest, behest, bequest, blood test, congest, conquest, contest, crow's nest, depressed, detest, devest, digest, distressed, divest, egest, eighth rest, field-test, flight-test, footrest, gabfest, half rest, hard-pressed, headrest, high-test, hillcrest, hope chest, houseguest, imprest, incest, infest, ingest, inquest, interest, invest, Key West, lovefest, love nest, Mae West, mare's nest, Midwest, molest, northwest, patch test, posttest, pretest, professed, protest, redbreast, repressed, revest, road test, scratch test, screen test, sea chest, skin test, slop chest, slugfest, southwest, spot test, steam chest, stress test, suggest, Trieste, t-test, unblessed, undressed, unrest, unstressed, war chest, whole rest, Wild West
2request
verb
: to ask for (something) in a polite or formal way
: to ask (someone) to do something in a polite or formal way
Full Definition of REQUEST
transitive verb
1
: to make a request to or of <requested her to write a paper>
2
: to ask as a favor or privilege <requests to be excused>
3
obsolete : to ask (a person) to come or go to a thing or place
4
: to ask for <requested a brief delay>
— re·quest·er or re·quest·or \-ˈkwes-tər\ noun
See request defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of REQUEST
1533
Related to REQUEST
- Synonyms
- ask (for), put in (for), order, requisition
Synonym Discussion of REQUEST
ask, question, interrogate, query, inquire mean to address a person in order to gain information. ask implies no more than the putting of a question <ask for directions>. question usually suggests the asking of series of questions <questioned them about every detail of the trip>. interrogate suggests formal or official systematic questioning <the prosecutor interrogated the witness all day>. query implies a desire for authoritative information or confirmation <queried a librarian about the book>. inquire implies a searching for facts or for truth often specifically by asking questions <began to inquire of friends and teachers what career she should pursue>.
ask, request, solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known. ask implies no more than the statement of the desire <ask a favor of a friend>. request implies greater formality and courtesy <requests the pleasure of your company>. solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement <a letter soliciting information>.
ask, request, solicit mean to seek to obtain by making one's wants known. ask implies no more than the statement of the desire <ask a favor of a friend>. request implies greater formality and courtesy <requests the pleasure of your company>. solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement <a letter soliciting information>.
REQUEST Defined for Kids
1request
noun re·quest \ri-ˈkwest\
Definition of REQUEST for Kids
1
: the act of asking for something
2
: something asked for <He granted my request.>
3
: the condition of being asked for <Tickets are available on request.>
2request
verb
re·quest·edre·quest·ing
Definition of REQUEST for Kids
1
: to ask something of someone <He requested them to sing.>
2
: to ask for <I'm requesting a loan.>
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