requite

UK: /rɪˈkwaɪt/ US: /rɪˈkwaɪt/ ,(ri kwīt′)

Inflections of 'requite' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

requites

v 3rd person singular

requiting

v pres p

requited

v past

requited

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•quite /rɪˈkwaɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -quit•ed, -quit•ing. 

1. to make repayment for (service, benefits, etc.).
2. to repay in kind, either for a kindness or an injury.
3. to give or do in return.

re•quit•al, n. [uncountable]
re•quit•er, n. [countable] See -quit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•quite  (ri kwīt′), v.t., -quit•ed, -quit•ing. 

1. to make repayment or return for (service, benefits, etc.).
2. to make retaliation for (a wrong, injury, etc.);
   avenge.
3. to make return to (a person, group, etc.) for service, benefits, etc.
4. to retaliate on (a person, group, etc.) for a wrong, injury, etc.
5. to give or do in return.

• re- + obsolete quite, variant of quit 1520–30

re•quit′a•ble, adj. 
re•quite′ment, n. 
re•quit′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. repay, reward, recompense, compensate, pay, remunerate, reimburse.
• 2. revenge.

Antonyms

• 2. forgive.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

requite / rɪˈkwaɪt/ verb

1. (transitive) to make return to (a person for a kindness or injury); repay with a similar action

Etymology: 16th Century: re- + obsolete quite to discharge, repay; see quit

reˈquitable adjective

reˈquitement noun

reˈquiter noun