ENGLISH
REFERENCE

require

v.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˌɹiˈkwaɪɝ// UK //ɹɪkwˈaɪə// re·quire Academic Archaic General-service

v. to need something or make it necessary. You use this when a rule, a person, or a situation says something must happen.

v. to need for a particular purpose; to impose an obligation or necessity. Transitive — requires a direct object or a clausal complement.


SIMPLE

Most plants require water and sunlight to grow.

CONTEXTUAL

The new safety regulations require all employees to wear protective gear while operating the machinery.

COMPLEX

While the basic version of the software is free, the advanced features require a monthly subscription that includes technical support and cloud storage.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Old French requerre (French: requérir), from Latin requīrō (“I require, seek, ask for”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and often takes an object followed by a to-infinitive ('require someone to do something').

Pitfall

The job requires to speak EnglishThe job requires you to speak EnglishWhen followed by an action, this verb needs an object before the to-infinitive, or it can take a gerund ('requires speaking').

© 2026 English Reference