# request

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɹɪˈkwɛst/ · frequency rank #1,801

## Definitions
1. To ask for (something).
2. To ask (somebody) to do something.

## Etymology
From Middle English request, from Old French requeste (French requête), from Vulgar Latin *requaesita, from Latin requīsīta, feminine of requīsītus (“requested, demanded”), past participle of requīrō (“require, ask”), composed of re- + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”). Compare to French requérir.

## Easily confused with
- **requests** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/request-vs-requests)
- **requested** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/request-vs-requested)

## Common misspellings (10)
`erquest`, `reqeust`, `reqquest`, `requesst`, `requestt`, `requets`, `requset`, `reuqest`, `rqeuest`, `rrequest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/request