Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

require

/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.78 in modern English

Syllables
re-quire
IPA
/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/
16
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To demand, to insist upon (having); to call for authoritatively.

verb

Naturally to demand (something) as indispensable; to need, to call for as necessary.

verb

To demand (of someone) to do something.

verb

To ask (someone) for something; to request; to beseech.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Old French requerre (whence Modern French requérir), from Latin requīrō (“to require, seek, ask for”, literally “to seek back”), from re- (“back; again”) + quaerō (“to seek”, whence query).

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/
  • British English: /ɹɪˈkwaɪə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

requires (present, singular) requiring (participle, present) required (participle, past) required (past)

Derived Forms

prerequire requirability requirable unrequire

Phrases

desperate times require desperate measures extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence require improvement

Frequently Paired Words

requirement requisite request

Synonyms

provide ask call for exact command expect want need

Rhymes With

fire higher entire prior desire wire hire acquire buyer tire liar cease-fire

Questions

How do you pronounce require?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/.
What does require mean?
To demand, to insist upon (having); to call for authoritatively.
Where does require come from?
From Old French requerre (whence Modern French requérir), from Latin requīrō (“to require, seek, ask for”, literally “to seek back”), from re- (“back; again”) + quaerō (“to seek”, whence query).

How to pronounce require

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “require”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɹɪˈkwaɪɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “require”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “require” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.