What does "request" mean?
Act of requesting (with the adposition at in the presence of possessives, and on in their absence).
Request
/ɹɪˈkwɛst/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Act of requesting (with the adposition at in the presence of possessives, and on in their absence).
- Grammar: request is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: petition, act of asking, address, app.
- Useful contrasts: norwegian orden, swedish ordning, barking.
- Usage evidence: You should have refused his request flatly.
How to use "request"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "request" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "request" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "request" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "request" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "request" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "petition" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "request", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Act of requesting (with the adposition at in the presence of possessives, and on in their absence).
"I will marry her, sir, at your request."
- 2 a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority wordnet
- 3 A formal message requesting something.
- 4 the verbal act of requesting wordnet
- 5 Condition of being sought after.
"I do not doubt, but many Great and more Noble Uſes would have been made of ſuch Conqueſts or Diſcoveries, if they had fallen to the ſhare of the Greeks and Romans in thoſe Ages, when Knowledge and Fame were in as great Requeſt, as endleſs Gains and Wealth are among us now; [...]"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A message sent over a network to a server.
"The server returned a 404 error to the HTTP request."
- 7 That which is asked for or requested. obsolete
"He gave them their request."
Verb
- 1 To ask for (something).
"The corporal requested reinforcements."
- 2 express the need or desire for wordnet
- 3 To ask (somebody) to do something. transitive
"She called me into her office and requested me to sit down."
- 4 ask (a person) to do something wordnet
- 5 inquire for (information) wordnet
Example
"You should have refused his request flatly."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "request"?
Common synonyms include: petition, act of asking, address, app, appeal, appeal.
How do you use "request" in a sentence?
You should have refused his request flatly.
How do you pronounce "request"?
Pronounced /ɹɪˈkwɛst/.
Etymology
From Middle English request, from Old French requeste (French requête), from Vulgar Latin *requaesita, from Latin requīsīta, feminine of requīsītus (“requested, demanded”), past participle of requīrō (“require, ask”), composed of re- + quaerō (“I seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Compare to French requérir.