require
verb
re·quire
ri-ˈkwī(-ə)r 
required; requiring
1
a
: to claim or ask for by right and authority
b
archaic
: request
2
a
: to call for as suitable or appropriate
the occasion requires formal dress
b
: to demand as necessary or essential : have a compelling need for
all living beings require food
3
: to impose a compulsion or command on : compel
4
chiefly British
: to feel or be obliged
—used with a following infinitive
one does not require to be a specialist—
Elizabeth Bowen
Elizabeth Bowen
archaic
: ask
Examples of require in a Sentence
the toy requires four batteries, which are not included
Recent Examples on the Web
Segura said the plan, as outlined by the TEA, requires the affected schools to have a principal with turnaround experience and teachers who meet certain performance requirements.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Economic growth may require zoning updates Before 2022, most data centers in Loudoun County in Virginia were built in areas zoned for industrial use and drew minimal community pushback.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025
Indiana government employees, for example, are required to avoid outside employment that would conflict with state property, time or information, or use their position in state government to secure privileges that wouldn’t be available to the average citizen.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
These systems tend to short-cycle—turning on and off in quick succession—requiring more electricity to repeatedly start the compressor than to simply run it steadily.
—Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for require
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Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Economic growth may require zoning updates Before 2022, most data centers in Loudoun County in Virginia were built in areas zoned for industrial use and drew minimal community pushback.
—Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025
Indiana government employees, for example, are required to avoid outside employment that would conflict with state property, time or information, or use their position in state government to secure privileges that wouldn’t be available to the average citizen.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 30 July 2025
These systems tend to short-cycle—turning on and off in quick succession—requiring more electricity to repeatedly start the compressor than to simply run it steadily.
—Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for require
Cite this Entry
“Require.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/require. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
require
verb
re·quire
ri-ˈkwī(ə)r
required; requiring
1
: to have a need for
a game that requires skill
2
: order entry 1 sense 2a
the law requires that everyone pay the tax
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