requesting

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•quest /rɪˈkwɛst/   n. 

[countable]
1. the act of asking for something to be given or done;
   petition:
   a request for silence.
2. something asked for:
   Please grant our request.

v. 

3. to ask for, esp. formally or politely:
   [~ + object] I request permission to speak.
4. to ask or beg someone to do something: [~ + to + verb]
   I request to be excused.
   [~ + that clause]
   I requested that all records of this conversation be destroyed.
   [~ + object + to + verb]
   He requested me to leave.

Idioms

5. Idioms by or on request, in response to a request:
   The band played tunes on request.

See -ques-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•quest  (ri kwest′), n. 

1. the act of asking for something to be given or done, esp. as a favor or courtesy;
   solicitation or petition:
   At his request, they left.
2. an instance of this:
   There have been many requests for the product.
3. a written statement of petition:
   If you need supplies, send in a request.
4. something asked for:
   to obtain one's request.
5. the state of being asked for;
   demand.
6. Informal Terms by request, in response or accession to a request:
   The orchestra played numbers by request.

v.t. 

7. to ask for, esp. politely or formally:
   He requested permission to speak.
8. to ask or beg;
   bid (usually fol. by a clause or an infinitive):
   to request that he leave; to request to be excused.
9. to ask or beg (someone) to do something:
   He requested me to go.

• Vulgar Latin *requaesita things asked for, noun, nominal use of neuter plural past participle of *requaerere to seek, for Latin requīrere. See require, quest
• Old French
• Middle English requeste (noun, nominal) 1300–50

re•quest′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. entreaty, supplication, prayer.
• 7. petition, supplicate.
• 8. See beg. 
• 9. entreat, beseech.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

request / rɪˈkwɛst/ verb (transitive)

1. to express a desire for, esp politely; ask for or demand: to request a bottle of wine

noun

1. the act or an instance of requesting, esp in the form of a written statement; petition or solicitation: a request for a song
2. at the request of ⇒ in accordance with the specific demand or wish of (someone)
3. by request ⇒ in accordance with someone's desire
4. in request ⇒ in demand; popular: they are in request in concert halls all over the world
5. on request ⇒ on the occasion of a demand or request: application forms are available on request

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French requeste, from Vulgar Latin requaerere (unattested) to seek after; see require, quest

reˈquester noun