Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense requires, present participle requiring, past tense, past participle required
1. verb
If you require something or if something is required, you need it or it is necessary.
[formal]
If you require further information, you should consult the registrar. [VERB noun]
This isn't the kind of crisis that requires us to drop everything else. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
Some of the materials required for this technique may be difficult to obtain. [VERB-ed]
2. verb
If a law or rule requires you to do something, you have to do it.
[formal]
The rules also require employers to provide safety training. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
At least 35 manufacturers have flouted a law requiring prompt reporting of such malfunctions. [VERB noun]
The law requires that employees are given the opportunity to improve their performancebefore they are dismissed. [VERB that]
Then he'll know exactly what's required of him. [beVERB-ed + of]
Synonyms: order, demand, direct, command More Synonyms of require
3.
See required reading
More Synonyms of require
require in British English
(rɪˈkwaɪə)
verb(mainly tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive)
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 a 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 people to account for their 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
requirable (reˈquirable)
adjective
requirer (reˈquirer)
noun
Word origin
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
require in American English
(rɪˈkwaɪr)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈquired or reˈquiring
1.
to ask or insist upon, as by right or authority; demand
to require obedience
2.
to order; command
to require someone to be present
3.
to be in need of; need
to require help
4.
to call for as necessary or appropriate
work that requires a steady hand
5.
to demand by virtue of a law, regulation, etc.
what is required by law
6. Archaic
to ask for; request
verb intransitive
7. Rare
to make a demand
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈmand, lack
Word origin
ME requiren < base of OFr requerre < VL *requaerere, for L requirere < re-, again + quaerere, to ask
Examples of 'require' in a sentence
require
They would be required to make up the lost time.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It also requires them to help intelligence agencies decode encrypted messaging services.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The airport is required by law to have a fire engine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It lists the businesses that it lends capital to and requires that they make a positive impact.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Once a system is in place, it should be maintained through audits and further spending if required.
Computing (2010)
The trust has ambitious plans to double in size; this will require further issue of equity but that dividend yield looks safe enough.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You won't know what's required until your relative needs it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Information sharing is only possible if we have IT systems that can talk to one another in real time and that requires information standards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sometimes I won't know who requires my services until they arrive.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To do that requires information that enables executives to make informed judgments.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
And this requires controls that make opinions unnecessary.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
We will be explaining to him exactly what is required to be an international player.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They may also be required to meet a number of predetermined conditions and be subject to inspection.
Tom Cannon Basic Marketing. Principles and Practice (1986)
You lack the information required to know if the insurance is a good deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They will determine if any further action is required.
The Sun (2013)
This code represents the information required for protein synthesis.
McCahill, T. A. Biology Basic Facts (1982)
All the best sport requires you to make an effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They know exactly what is required to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Staff are also required to empty their own bins.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
These volunteers know perfectly well what is required.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The watchdog said that it required further information on the deal.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That in turn requires continuous information on performance against standards.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
They did exactly what was required with speed and agility.
The Sun (2013)
Certain exercises will also require a bench or stands.
Lycholat, Tony Shape Your Body, Shape Your Life (1987)
It will require they know they are loved.
Christianity Today (2000)
Many lenders have gone further than required and been enforcing more strict and intrusive criteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Only those applicants who were considered exceptional were sent questionnaires requiring additional information.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These are reputable companies whose services are used regularly by solicitors to do exactly what you require.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It makes sense to require policy changes of governments that need to adjust their spending to their resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is equally clear that he has the pace to make the required contribution in attack and the strength to defend successfully.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The 18th century pub also had no prices on display as required by law.
The Sun (2008)
Landlords are required by law to have an annual gas safety check carried out and to ensure that boilers are maintained in a safe condition.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The law requires restaurants serving more than 180 people a day to sort and recycle their waste or face fines.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
require
British English: require /rɪˈkwaɪə/ VERB
To require something means to need it.
The crisis requires immediate action.
American English: require
Arabic: يَحْتَاجُ إلى
Brazilian Portuguese: precisar de
Chinese: 需要
Croatian: zahtijeva
Czech: vyžadovat
Danish: kræve
Dutch: vereisen
European Spanish: requerir
Finnish: tarvita
French: exiger
German: benötigen
Greek: απαιτώ
Italian: esigere
Japanese: 必要とする
Korean: 필요로 하다
Norwegian: trenge
Polish: wymagać
European Portuguese: precisar de
Romanian: a cere
Russian: требовать
Latin American Spanish: requerir
Swedish: kräva
Thai: ต้องการ
Turkish: gerektirmek
Ukrainian: вимагати
Vietnamese: cần có
All related terms of 'require'
require action
Action is doing something for a particular purpose.
require effort
If you make an effort to do something, you try very hard to do it.
require energy
Energy is the ability and strength to do active physical things and the feeling that you are full of physical power and life.
require assistance
If you give someone assistance , you help them do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
require commitment
Commitment is a strong belief in an idea or system.
require discipline
Discipline is the practice of making people obey rules or standards of behaviour, and punishing them when they do not.
require knowledge
Knowledge is information and understanding about a subject which a person has, or which all people have.
require patience
If you have patience , you are able to stay calm and not get annoyed , for example when something takes a long time, or when someone is not doing what you want them to do.
require treatment
Treatment is medical attention given to a sick or injured person or animal.
require improvement
If there is an improvement in something, it becomes better . If you make improvements to something, you make it better.
require an operation
When a patient has an operation , a surgeon cuts open their body in order to remove, replace, or repair a diseased or damaged part.
Chinese translation of 'require'
require
(rɪˈkwaɪəʳ)
vt
(= need) 需要 (xūyào)
(= demand) 要求 (yāoqiú)
to be required[approval, permission]必须(須)有 (bìxū yǒu)
to require sb to do sth要求某人做某事 (yāoqiú mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
if required如有需要 (rú yǒu xūyào)
required by law法律规(規)定 (fǎlǜ guīdìng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to need
A baby requires warmth and physical security.
Synonyms
need
He desperately needed money.
crave
There may be certain times of day when smokers crave a cigarette.
depend upon
have need of
want
The grass wants cutting.
miss
Your mum and I are going to miss you at Christmas.
lack
It lacked the power of the Italian cars.
wish
I will do as you wish.
desire
He was bored and desired change in his life.
stand in need of
2 (verb)
Definition
to be a necessary condition
This requires thought, effort, and a certain ruthlessness.
Synonyms
demand
The task demands much patience and hard work.
take
Walking across the room took all her strength.
involve
Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed.
call for
entail
Such a decision would entail a huge risk.
necessitate
A prolonged drought had necessitated the introduction of water rationing.
3 (verb)
Definition
to insist upon
The rules require employers to provide safety training.
Synonyms
order
demand
She demanded an immediate apology.
direct
They have been directed to give special attention to poverty.
command
compel
the introduction of legislation to compel cyclists to wear a helmet
exact
He has exacted a high price for his co-operation.
oblige
This decree obliges unions to delay strikes.
instruct
call upon
constrain
Individuals will be constrained to make many sacrifices for the greater good.
insist upon
4 (verb)
Definition
to order or command
She was required to take to the stage.
Synonyms
ask
We had to ask him to leave.
order
Williams ordered him to leave.
bid
I dare say he did as he was bidden.
command
He commanded his troops to attack.
compel
oblige
instruct
They have instructed solicitors to sue for compensation.
enjoin
She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else.
Usage note
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. Useful alternatives are: I need to see the manager and you are required to complete a special form.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bid
Definition
to order
I dare say he did as he was bidden.
Synonyms
tell,
call,
ask,
order,
charge (formal),
require,
direct,
desire (formal),
invite,
command,
summon,
instruct,
solicit,
enjoin
in the sense of command
Definition
to order or compel
He commanded his troops to attack.
Synonyms
order,
tell,
charge (formal),
demand,
require,
dictate,
direct,
bid,
compel,
enjoin
in the sense of compel
Definition
to force (to be or do something)
the introduction of legislation to compel cyclists to wear a helmet
Synonyms
force,
make,
urge,
enforce,
railroad (informal),
drive,
oblige,
constrain,
hustle (slang),
necessitate,
coerce,
bulldoze (informal),
impel,
dragoon
Synonyms of 'require'
require
Explore 'require' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of constrain
Definition
to compel or force
Individuals will be constrained to make many sacrifices for the greater good.
Synonyms
force,
pressure,
urge,
bind,
compel,
oblige,
necessitate,
coerce,
impel,
pressurize,
drive
in the sense of crave
Definition
to desire intensely
There may be certain times of day when smokers crave a cigarette.
Synonyms
long for,
yearn for,
hanker after,
be dying for,
want,
need,
require,
desire,
fancy (informal),
hope for,
cry out for (informal),
thirst for,
pine for,
covet,
lust after,
pant for,
sigh for,
set your heart on,
hunger after,
eat your heart out over,
would give your eyeteeth for
in the sense of desire
Definition
to want very much
He was bored and desired change in his life.
Synonyms
want,
long for,
crave,
fancy (informal),
hope for,
ache for,
covet,
aspire to,
wish for,
yearn for,
thirst for,
hanker after,
set your heart on,
desiderate
in the sense of direct
Definition
to give orders with authority to (a person or group)
They have been directed to give special attention to poverty.
Synonyms
order,
command,
instruct,
charge (formal),
demand,
require,
bid,
enjoin,
adjure
in the sense of enjoin
Definition
to order (someone) to do something
She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else.
Synonyms
order,
charge (formal),
warn,
urge,
require,
direct,
bid,
command,
advise,
counsel,
prescribe,
instruct,
call upon
in the sense of entail
Definition
to bring about or impose inevitably
Such a decision would entail a huge risk.
Synonyms
involve,
require,
cause,
produce,
demand,
lead to,
call for,
occasion (formal),
need,
impose,
result in,
bring about,
give rise to,
encompass,
necessitate
in the sense of exact
Definition
to obtain or demand as a right, esp. through force or strength
He has exacted a high price for his co-operation.
Synonyms
demand,
claim,
require,
call for,
force,
impose,
command,
squeeze,
extract,
compel,
wring,
wrest,
insist upon,
extort
in the sense of instruct
Definition
to order to do something
They have instructed solicitors to sue for compensation.
Synonyms
order,
tell,
direct,
charge (formal),
bid,
command,
mandate,
enjoin
in the sense of involve
Definition
to include as a necessary part
Running a kitchen involves a great deal of discipline and speed.
Synonyms
entail,
mean,
demand,
require,
call for,
occasion (formal),
result in,
imply,
give rise to,
encompass,
necessitate,
take,
require,
presuppose
in the sense of lack
Definition
to be short (of) or have need (of)
It lacked the power of the Italian cars.
Synonyms
miss,
want,
need,
require,
not have,
be without,
be short of,
be in need of,
be deficient in
Additional synonyms
in the sense of miss
Definition
to discover or regret the loss or absence of
Your mum and I are going to miss you at Christmas.
Synonyms
long for,
wish for,
yearn for,
want,
need,
hunger for,
pine for,
long to see,
ache for,
feel the loss of,
regret the absence of
in the sense of necessitate
Definition
to compel or require
A prolonged drought had necessitated the introduction of water rationing.
Synonyms
compel,
force,
involve,
demand,
require,
call for,
exact,
oblige,
warrant,
entail,
constrain,
impel,
be grounds for,
make necessary
in the sense of oblige
Definition
to compel someone by legal, moral, or physical means to do something
This decree obliges unions to delay strikes.
Synonyms
compel,
make,
force,
require,
bind,
railroad (informal),
constrain,
necessitate,
coerce,
impel,
dragoon,
obligate
in the sense of take
Definition
to require (time, resources, or ability)
Walking across the room took all her strength.
Synonyms
require,
need,
involve,
demand,
call for,
entail,
necessitate
in the sense of want
Definition
to have need of or require (doing or being something)