requite
/ɹɪˈkwaɪt/
"requite" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“requite” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 7
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | requite |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/ |
| Letters | 7 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “requite” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for requite is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 13 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
requite doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: The verb is derived from Middle English requiten (“to repay”), and then partly from both of the following: * From re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backward’) + quiten (“to pay, pay for; to repay; to acquit (someone of a charge), exonerate; to prove (onesel… The correct English form is requite, spelled R-E-Q-U-I-T-E.
Definition
- 1To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
- 2To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc.
- 3To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown).
- 4To do or give a thing in return for (something).
- 5To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge.
- 6To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself).
- 7To greet (someone) in return.
- 8To make up for (something); to compensate.
- 9To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.).
- 10To take the place of (someone or something); to replace.
- 11Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself).
- 12To recompense, to repay.
- 13To retaliate, to seek revenge.
Etymology
The verb is derived from Middle English requiten (“to repay”), and then partly from both of the following: * From re- (prefix meaning ‘again; back, backward’) + quiten (“to pay, pay for; to repay; to acquit (someone of a charge), exonerate; to prove (oneself) innocent; to answer, reply; to atone for (a sin); to compensate, make amends; to depart, leave; to equal, match; to fulfil (an obligation); to give back, return; to give up, relinquish; to release, set free; to render (a service); to reward; to give retribution, take revenge”) (from Old French quitter (“to free, liberate”) (modern French quitter), from quitte (“free, liberated”) + -er (suffix forming verbs)). Quitte is derived from Latin quiētus (“at rest; quiet”), the perfect passive participle of quiēscō (“to repose, rest; to sleep; to be quiet or still”), from quiēs (“rest, repose; sleep; calm, peace, quiet”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“to rest; peace, rest”)) + -scō (suffix forming verbs with the sense ‘to begin to do [something]’). * From Old French requiter, requitter (“to free or liberate again”), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) + quitter (see above). The noun is derived from the verb.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “requite”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is R-E-Q-U-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.