request 1 of 2

Definition of requestnext
1
as in question
an act or instance of asking for information the medical columnist is unable to answer individual requests for specific information on various disorders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in demand
the state of being sought after especially for purchase reliable babysitters are much in request, especially on weekends

Synonyms & Similar Words

request

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word request distinct from other similar verbs?

The words ask and solicit are common synonyms of request. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

In what contexts can ask take the place of request?

While in some cases nearly identical to request, ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

When is it sensible to use solicit instead of request?

The words solicit and request are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

How is the word request distinct from other similar verbs?

The words ask and solicit are common synonyms of request. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," request implies greater formality and courtesy.

requests the pleasure of your company

In what contexts can ask take the place of request?

While in some cases nearly identical to request, ask implies no more than the statement of the desire.

ask a favor of a friend

When is it sensible to use solicit instead of request?

The words solicit and request are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, solicit suggests a calling attention to one's wants or desires by public announcement or advertisement.

a letter soliciting information

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of request
Noun
But under the Florida and Oklahoma laws, any arrest could lead to DNA collection for immigrants subject to federal detainer requests. ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026 At the Tulsa Zoo, which did not respond to requests for comment, Billy and Tina are now part of a crew that includes five other Asian elephants. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
In a motion, the state requested an order directing defense attorneys not to mention in the trial’s guilt-innocence phase that Horner has Asperger’s, autism, bipolar or multiple personality disorder, and not to refer to a civil settlement of a lawsuit Athena’s parents reached with FedEx. Emerson Clarridge updated March 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2026 During the February 2026 stay, Laura again requested a posey bed and asked for a psychiatric consult. Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for request
Recent Examples of Synonyms for request
Noun
  • How will the question appear on the ballot?
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Steyer faced questions about his offshore investments before.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The challenge is balancing future planning with present-day demands without letting the stress compound.
    Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Officials and defense analysts have long said that the constraint is not simply funding, but structural limits in a defense industrial base designed for predictable demand rather than rapid wartime expansion.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • At least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, trained to land in hostile territory to secure key positions and airfields, have been ordered to the Middle East.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Denise was ordered to go into the same closet.
    Lauren Clark, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Another, says Lentsch, was when the Wyoming state senate almost passed SJ2, a bill seeking to transfer all federal land in Wyoming to the state for the purpose of selling it off.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The sixth pillar, agri-tourism, seeks to support rural economic activity and diversify income sources.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Ali, who wasn’t formally charged, called his family to say that he would be released on bail, and asked them to gather the funds and collect him from prison.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The Manteca Fire Department is taking action and trying to get ahead of this fire season by asking residents to reduce fire danger or face fines.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Either Empire or Lowe’s will handle future customer service inquiries and warranty claims.
    Dan Simms, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Investors fear that the war will disrupt the Persian Gulf's energy industry for a long time, setting off a punishing wave of global inflation by keeping large amounts of oil and natural gas out of global markets.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The 9-9-9 challenge in Section 139 invites fans to tackle nine slider hot dogs paired with nine 4-ounce beer pours across 9 innings.
    Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The Inn stays shut during winter and ‘pack ice’ season, which some locals will tell you is the most beautiful time of all—for snowmobiling and snowshoeing through the Island’s interior by day, and come evening, getting invited into someone's warm shed for a tipple and a chat.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Request.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/request. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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