requite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “requite” mean?
to repay or return something, especially a favour, injury, or affection.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to repay or return something, especially a favour, injury, or affection
to respond to an action or emotion with a corresponding one; to make appropriate return for
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences; equally rare in both varieties
Connotations
Slightly more archaic/literary feel in British English; in American English sometimes appears in legal/formal contexts about recompense
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both (less than 0.01 occurrences per million words); slightly more likely in British literary texts
Grammar
How to Use “requite” in a Sentence
requite + noun (requite his kindness)requite + with + noun (requite with gratitude)be requited (her love was requited)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “requite” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She hoped her kindness would be requited in time.
- The novel explores whether evil should be requited with evil.
American English
- He sought to requite the injustice done to his family.
- Her affection was never requited, leaving her heartbroken.
adverb
British English
- He acted requitedly, returning each favour precisely.
American English
- She smiled requitedly, having finally repaid the kindness.
adjective
British English
- Requited love is a central theme in Shakespeare's sonnets.
- The requited debt brought him peace of mind.
American English
- After years of unrequited feelings, their love was finally requited.
- A requited injury satisfied his sense of justice.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in business contexts
Academic
Occasionally in literary criticism, philosophy (ethics of reciprocity), or historical texts
Everyday
Extremely rare in spoken language; would sound archaic or pretentious
Technical
Sometimes in legal contexts regarding compensation or reparation
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “requite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “requite”
- Confusing with 'require' or 'request'
- Using in informal contexts where 'return' or 'repay' would be natural
- Incorrect: 'He requited me to help him' (should be 'required')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's quite rare and mostly found in formal, literary, or archaic contexts. Most native speakers would use 'repay', 'return', or 'reciprocate' instead.
'Requite' means to repay or return something, while 'require' means to need or demand something. They're often confused due to similar spelling but have opposite meanings.
Yes, it can mean to retaliate or take revenge for an injury ('requite an insult'), though it more commonly refers to returning good for good.
Yes, 'unrequited love' is a fixed phrase that's far more common than any use of 'requited'. Most encounters with this word family are through 'unrequited'.
to repay or return something, especially a favour, injury, or affection.
Requite is usually formal, literary in register.
Requite: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈkwaɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈkwaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “requite love with love”
- “requite evil with good”
- “requite in kind”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RE-quite' = to 're-pay' or 're-turn' something. It rhymes with 'quite' - you return something quite properly.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL DEBT IS FINANCIAL DEBT (requiting love = repaying a loan)
Practice
Quiz
Which context is LEAST appropriate for 'requite'?