REQUEST

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does request mean? 

• REQUEST (noun)
  The noun REQUEST has 2 senses:

1. a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority

2. the verbal act of requesting

  Familiarity information: REQUEST used as a noun is rare.

• REQUEST (verb)
  The verb REQUEST has 3 senses:

1. express the need or desire for

2. ask (a person) to do something

3. inquire for (information)

  Familiarity information: REQUEST used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REQUEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

petition; postulation; request

Hypernyms ("request" is a kind of...):

content; message; subject matter; substance (what a communication that is about something is about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "request"):

appeal; collection; ingathering; solicitation (request for a sum of money)

demand (an urgent or peremptory request)

application (a verbal or written request for assistance or employment or admission to a school)

Derivation:

request (ask (a person) to do something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The verbal act of requesting

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

asking; request

Hypernyms ("request" is a kind of...):

speech act (the use of language to perform some act)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "request"):

callback; recall (a request by the manufacturer of a defective product to return the product (as for replacement or repair))

order (a request for something to be made, supplied, or served)

inquiring; questioning (a request for information)

trick or treat (a request by children on Halloween; they pass from door to door asking for goodies and threatening to play tricks on those who refuse)

billing; charge (request for payment of a debt)

orison; petition; prayer (reverent petition to a deity)

appeal; entreaty; prayer (earnest or urgent request)

invitation (a request (spoken or written) to participate or be present or take part in something)

indirect request; wish (an expression of some desire or inclination)

call (a request)

notice; notification (a request for payment)

Derivation:

request (express the need or desire for)

request (ask (a person) to do something)

request (inquire for (information))

• REQUEST (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they request    ... he / she / it requests   
Past simple: requested   
Past participle: requested   
-ing form: requesting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Express the need or desire for

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

ask for; bespeak; call for; quest; request

Context example:

when you call, always ask for Mary

Hypernyms (to "request" is one way to...):

communicate; pass; pass along; pass on; put across (transmit information)

Verb group:

call for; invite (request the participation or presence of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "request"):

demand (ask to be informed of)

claim (ask for legally or make a legal claim to, as of debts, for example)

call for; invite (request the participation or presence of)

ask in; invite (ask to enter)

desire (express a desire for)

beg (ask to obtain free)

arrogate; claim; lay claim (demand as being one's due or property; assert one's right or title to)

ask over; ask round; invite (invite someone to one's house)

call (call a meeting; invite or command to meet)

ask; ask out; invite out; take out (make a date)

book; hold; reserve (arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance)

apply (ask (for something))

beg off; excuse (ask for permission to be released from an engagement)

challenge (ask for identification)

reserve (obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance)

beg; solicit; tap (make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently)

supplicate (ask for humbly or earnestly, as in prayer)

appeal; invoke (request earnestly (something from somebody); ask for aid or protection)

demand (request urgently and forcefully)

petition (write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing)

encore (request an encore, from a performer)

ask (make a request or demand for something to somebody)

order (make a request for something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

request (the verbal act of requesting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Ask (a person) to do something

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I requested that she type the entire manuscript

Hypernyms (to "request" is one way to...):

ask (make a request or demand for something to somebody)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "request"):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

call (order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role)

bid; invite (ask someone in a friendly way to do something)

declare oneself; offer; pop the question; propose (ask (someone) to marry you)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s somebody INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence examples:

They request him to write the letter
They request to move

Derivation:

request (a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority)

request (the verbal act of requesting)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Inquire for (information)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

I requested information from the secretary

Hypernyms (to "request" is one way to...):

enquire; inquire; wonder (have a wish or desire to know something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "request"):

seek (inquire for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Derivation:

request (the verbal act of requesting)

 Context examples 

“It is not cold which makes me shiver,” said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“It was either his request or her direction, I forget which.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I was again ready with my request.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

There was a considerable pause, and then he said slowly:—Then I suppose I must only shift my ground of request.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Enter requested information onto a form.

(Fill Out Form, NCI Thesaurus)

So away he was taken; but as he stood on the steps he said, “My Lord Judge, grant me one last request.” “Anything but thy life,” replied the other.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A request (spoken or written) to participate, be present, or take part in something

(Invitation, NCI Thesaurus)

Programs often receive a handle in response to a request for a resource, and then they use the handle when they need to access the resource.

(Handle, NCI Thesaurus)

With what sparkling eyes and ready motion she granted his request, and with how pleasing a flutter of heart she went with him to the set, may be easily imagined.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A document, or collection of documents, submitted by one requesting a grant.

(Grant Application, NCI Thesaurus)