Word.ws English Dictionary

requite

Syllables: re·quite/ɹɪˈkwaɪt//ɹəˈkwaɪt/

requite verb: to repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.).

Verb

requite (third-person singular simple present requites, present participle requiting, simple past and past participle requited)

  1. (transitive) To repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.)
    • But remember / (For that's my buſineſſe to you) that you three / From Millaine did ſupplant good Proſpero, / Expos'd vnto the Sea (vvhich hath requit it) / Him, and his innocent childe: for vvhich foule deed, / The Povvres, delaying (not forgetting) haue / Incens'd the Seas, and Shores; yea, all...1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published...
    • He that requiteth a good turne, muſt imploy ſomevvhat of his ovvne, as he doth vvho repayeth the monie he ovveth: but he layeth out nothing vvho ſatisfieth himſelfe, no more then he giueth, vvho giueth to himſelfe. […] He therefore that requiteth a good turne pleaſureth him againe, from vvhom hee...1614, Lucius Annæus Seneca [i.e., Seneca the Younger], “Of Benefits. The First Book. Chapter XI.”, in Tho[mas] Lodge, transl., The Workes of Lucius Annæus Seneca, both Morrall and Naturall, London...
  2. (transitive) To repay (someone) a debt owed; specifically, to recompense or reward (someone) for a favour, a service rendered, etc.
    • Sir I am ſo poore to requite you, you muſt looke for nothing but thankes of me, […]c. 1607–1610 (date written), Thomas Middleton; Thomas Dekker, The Roaring Girle. Or Moll Cut-purse. […], London: […] [Nicholas Okes] for Thomas Archer, […], published 1611, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]...
    • This place, to vvhich Ariſtotle ovv'd his birth, he aftervvards requited vvith extraordinary gratitude.1656, Tho[mas] Stanley, “[Aristotle.] Chap[ter] I. His Country, Parents, and Time of His Birth.”, in The History of Philosophy, the Second Volume, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Moseley, and Thomas...
  3. (transitive) To respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown).
    • My loue is requyted ſo louyngly / That in euery thyng that may delyght my mynde, / My wyt can not wyſhe it ſo well as I fynde1534, John Heywood, A Play of Loue, […], [London]: […] W[illiam] Rastell, →OCLC, signature B.i., verso
    • To love thee boundless, was my bold resolve, / Because my courage fail'd to equal thee. / I then began with thousand tender arts / And pure fraternal love, thy heart to storm. / But cold, proud soul, requitedst thou this love.1843, Friedrich Schiller, translated by I. Towler, Don Carlos: Infante of Spain. A Dramatic Poem. […], Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg: Francis Nöldeke, →OCLC, act I, scene ii, page 11
  4. (transitive) To do or give a thing in return for (something).
  5. (transitive) To retaliate or seek revenge for (an insult, a wrong, etc.).; to avenge.
    • Let me this craue, ſith firſt I vvas defyde, / That firſt I may that vvrong to him requite: / And if I hap to fayle, you ſhall recure my right.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 9, page 82
    • And when Joſephs brethren ſaw that their father was dead, they ſaid, Joseph will peraduenture hate vs, and will certainely requite vs all the euill which we did vnto him.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 50:15, column 2
  6. (transitive) To retaliate or seek revenge against (someone) for an insult, a wrong, etc.; also (reflexive, rare), to seek revenge for (oneself).
    • My Gratious Lord, not ſo much for the iniury hée offred me héere in your preſence, as to delight you with ſome mirth, hath Fauſtus worthily requited this iniurious knight, which being all I deſire, I am content to releaſe him of his hornes: […]1589–1592 (date written), Ch[ristopher] Marl[owe], The Tragicall History of D. Faustus. […], London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, published 1604, →OCLC, signature E, verso
    • [B]y kindling a fire in each Image, they made ſuch a ſmoke that the Indians vvounded & ſlevv many Tartars, vvho could not ſee to requite them [i.e., themselves] through the ſmoke: […]1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Relations of the Regions and Religions in Africa.] Of Presbyter Iohn: And of the Priest-Iohns in Asia: Whether that Descended of These.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or...
  7. (obsolete, transitive) To greet (someone) in return.
    • They him ſaluted ſtanding far afore; / VVho vvell them greeting, humbly did requight, / And asked, to vvhat end they clomb that tedious hight.1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto X”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 49, page 149
    • Lovvly they him ſaluted in meeke vviſe, / But he through pride and fatnes gan deſpiſe / Their meaneſſe; ſcarce vouchſafte them to requite.1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC, signature...
  8. (obsolete, transitive) To make up for (something); to compensate.
  9. (obsolete, transitive) To respond to (a question, a statement, etc.).
    • Jeſus […] requited their queſtion vvith an other, as though a man ſhoulde dryue out one nayle vvith an other.1549 February 10 (Gregorian calendar; indicated as 1548), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Gospell of Saincte Matthew. The .xxi. Chapiter.”, in Nicolas Udall [i.e., Nicholas Udall]...
    • He bowed slightly to K.'s uncle, who appeared very flattered to make this new acquaintance, yet, being by nature incapable of expressing obligation, requited the Clerk of the Court's words with a burst of embarrassed but raucous laughter.1935, Franz Kafka, “K.’s Uncle—Leni”, in Willa Muir, Edwin Muir, E[liza] M[arian] Butler, transl., The Trial, definitive edition, London: Secker and Warburg, published 1956 (1977 printing), →ISBN...
  10. (obsolete, transitive) To take the place of (someone or something); to replace.
    • [For if] tranſmutation be made from one mans body into another, as if a piece of fleſh be exchanged from the biciptall muſcle of either parties arme, and about them both, an Alphabet circumſcribed; upon a time appointed as ſome conceptions affirme, they may communicate at vvhat diſtance ſoever. For...1646, Thomas Browne, “Concerning the Loadstone, therein of Sundry Common Opinions, and Received Relations, Naturall, Historicall, Medicall, Magicall”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […]...
    • This Roman Hierarchy ſhall be Politically killed, deveſted of all Povver and Authority: From vvhence vvill naturally flovv Mourning and Famine, grief of heart, vvith ſcarcity and poverty to requite their luxury before.1680, Henry More, “Notes. Chapter XVII. Vers. 8.”, in Apocalypsis Apocalypseos; or The Revelation of St John the Divine Unveiled. […], London: […] J. M. for J[ohn] Martyn, and W. Kettilby, […]...
  11. (obsolete, reflexive, transitive) Of an action, a quality, etc.: to be a reward for (itself).
    • 'Tis all vve beg thee, to conceal from Sight / Thoſe Acts of Goodneſs, vvhich themſelves requite.1715, [Alexander] Pope, The Temple of Fame: A Vision, London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 32
    • [T]o have saved you requites itself. We who walk the greenwood do many a wild deed, and the Lady Rowena's deliverance may be received as an atonement.1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, chapter II, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC, page 42
  12. (intransitive) To recompense, to repay.
  13. (intransitive) To retaliate, to seek revenge.
    • […] Chriſt and his holy apoſtles, exhort euery man to pacience and ſufferance, without requiting of an euil dede or making anye defence but vſing further ſufferance, & doyng alſo good for euill, […]1528, Thomas More, “A Dialogue Concernynge Heresyes & Matters of Religion […]. Chapter XIV.”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London...
    • Becauſe the ſpoiler is come vpon her, euen vpon Babylon, and her mightie men are taken, euery one of their vowes is broken, for the Lord God of recompenſes ſhall ſurely requite.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Jeremiah 51:56

Noun

requite

  1. Chiefly in the form in requite for or of: synonym of requital (“compensation for damage or loss; return in kind, recompense, repayment, reward”).

requite meaning in Urdu, Malayalam, Sanskrit and Thai

requite in Urdu

بدلہ چکانا, انتقام لینا

requite in Malayalam

reciprocate, return, repay
പകരം കൊടുക്കുക, തിരിച്ചുകൊടുക്കുക, തിരികെ കൊടുക്കുക, പ്രതിപ്രവർത്തനം ചെയ്ക, കടം വീട്ടുക, പകരം ചെയ്ക
revenge, avenge, exact revenge for
പ്രതികാരം ചെയ്ക, പകരം വീട്ടുക, വീട്ടുക, പകവീട്ടുക, പകരത്തിനു പകരം ചെയ്യുക, അടിക്കടി കൊടുക്കുക
reciprocate, return
പരസ്പരം കൊടുക്കുകയും വാങ്ങുകയും ചെയ്ക, തിരികെകൊടുക്കുക, തിരിച്ചുകൊടുക്കുക, മടക്കിക്കൊടുക്കുക

requite in Sanskrit

to requite, return, reward or punish, reprove
यत् yat

requite in Thai

(transitive) to respond to or reciprocate (feelings, especially affection or love which has been shown)
ตอบแทน dtɔ̀ɔp-tɛɛn

Examples of requite in a sentence

  • [T]hey requited Chriſts paſſion, and died for him vvho ſuffered for them.1639, Thomas Fuller, “Jerusalem Wonne by the Turk, with Wofull Remarkables thereat”, in The Historie of the Holy Warre, Cambridge...
  • Good cryptographists are rare indeed; and thus their services, although seldom required, are necessarily well requited.1841 July, Edgar A[llan] Poe, “A Few Words on Secret Writing”, in George R[ex] Graham, Rufus W[ilmot] Griswold, editors, Graham’s Lady’s...
  • "It is one of the pleasant if quite onerous duties of a man of my position to requite the services he receives—usually on a disproportionately extravagant scale."1938 May, Evelyn Waugh, chapter 4, in Scoop: A Novel about Journalists, uniform edition, London: Chapman & Hall, published 1948 (1951...
  • [W]hat here vve call our life is ſuch, / So little to be loved, and thou ſo much, / That I ſhould ill requite thee to conſtrain / Thy unbound ſpirit into bonds again.1790, William Cowper, “On the Receipt of My Mother’s Picture out of Norfolk. The Gift of My Cousin Ann Bodham.”, in Poems […], London: […]...

Synonyms of requite

All synonyms of requite

Forms of requite

third-person singular presentrequites
present participlerequiting
past participlerequited
pastrequited
alternative formrequit
second-person singular present (archaic)requitest
second-person singular past (archaic)requitedst
third-person singular present (archaic)requiteth

Origin of requite

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.

Words formed from requite

Words that rhyme with requite

48 more rhymesFewer rhymes

Questions about requite

What does requite mean?
Requite means to repay (a debt owed); specifically, to recompense or reward someone for (a favour, a service rendered, etc.).
What is requite in Urdu?
Requite in Urdu is بدلہ چکانا, انتقام لینا. See Requite meaning in Urdu.
How do you use requite in a sentence?
[T]hey requited Chriſts paſſion, and died for him vvho ſuffered for them.
What part of speech is requite?
Requite can be a verb or a noun.
How do you pronounce requite?
Requite is pronounced /ɹɪˈkwaɪt/ (UK).
What is the past tense of requite?
The past tense of requite is requited.

Words near requite in the dictionary

  1. requit
  2. requitable
  3. requital
  4. requitals
  5. requitative
  6. requite
  7. requited
  8. requitedst
  9. requiteful
  10. requiteless
  11. requitement

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: requite (page history and authors); requite (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); requite (Olam, E.K. Kurup corpus) (dataset and license); यत् (Sanskrit) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “requite.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/requite. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.