diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c9ba3023..d1ae1b1e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,9 +41,27 @@ $ pip install httpcore[http2]
 
 Here's an example of making an HTTP GET request using `httpcore`...
 
+```python
+with httpcore.SyncConnectionPool() as http:
+    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = http.request(
+        method=b'GET',
+        url=(b'https', b'example.org', 443, b'/'),
+        headers=[(b'host', b'example.org'), (b'user-agent', 'httpcore')]
+    )
+
+    try:
+        body = b''.join([chunk for chunk in stream])
+    finally:
+        stream.close()
+
+    print(status_code, body)
+```
+
+Or, using async...
+
 ```python
 async with httpcore.AsyncConnectionPool() as http:
-    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = await http.request(
+    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
         method=b'GET',
         url=(b'https', b'example.org', 443, b'/'),
         headers=[(b'host', b'example.org'), (b'user-agent', 'httpcore')]
diff --git a/docs/api.md b/docs/api.md
index dfda0013..3bbde423 100644
--- a/docs/api.md
+++ b/docs/api.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ interface which transport classes need to implement.
 
 ::: httpcore.AsyncHTTPTransport
     :docstring:
-    :members: request aclose
+    :members: arequest aclose
 
 ::: httpcore.AsyncByteStream
     :docstring:
diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 5d81f52d..d1ae1b1e 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -41,11 +41,29 @@ $ pip install httpcore[http2]
 
 Here's an example of making an HTTP GET request using `httpcore`...
 
+```python
+with httpcore.SyncConnectionPool() as http:
+    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = http.request(
+        method=b'GET',
+        url=(b'https', b'example.org', 443, b'/'),
+        headers=[(b'host', b'example.org'), (b'user-agent', 'httpcore')]
+    )
+
+    try:
+        body = b''.join([chunk for chunk in stream])
+    finally:
+        stream.close()
+
+    print(status_code, body)
+```
+
+Or, using async...
+
 ```python
 async with httpcore.AsyncConnectionPool() as http:
-    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = await http.request(
+    http_version, status_code, reason_phrase, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
         method=b'GET',
-        url=(b'https', b'example.org', 433, b'/'),
+        url=(b'https', b'example.org', 443, b'/'),
         headers=[(b'host', b'example.org'), (b'user-agent', 'httpcore')]
     )
 
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/base.py b/httpcore/_async/base.py
index 410700be..9b0fc463 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/base.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/base.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class AsyncHTTPTransport:
     the `request` method, and optionally the `close` method.
     """
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/connection.py b/httpcore/_async/connection.py
index 9f50dc5f..35fe2a26 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/connection.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/connection.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def request_lock(self) -> AsyncLock:
             self._request_lock = self.backend.create_lock()
         return self._request_lock
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ async def request(
 
         assert self.connection is not None
         logger.trace(
-            "connection.request method=%r url=%r headers=%r", method, url, headers
+            "connection.arequest method=%r url=%r headers=%r", method, url, headers
         )
-        return await self.connection.request(method, url, headers, stream, timeout)
+        return await self.connection.arequest(method, url, headers, stream, timeout)
 
     async def _open_socket(self, timeout: TimeoutDict = None) -> AsyncSocketStream:
         scheme, hostname, port = self.origin
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py b/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
index 60a73cf6..c62812aa 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/connection_pool.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def __init__(
         callback: Callable,
     ) -> None:
         """
-        A wrapper around the response stream that we return from `.request()`.
+        A wrapper around the response stream that we return from `.arequest()`.
 
         Ensures that when `stream.aclose()` is called, the connection pool
         is notified via a callback.
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ def _connection_acquiry_lock(self) -> AsyncLock:
             self._internal_connection_acquiry_lock = self._backend.create_lock()
         return self._internal_connection_acquiry_lock
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ async def request(
                     logger.trace("reuse connection=%r", connection)
 
             try:
-                response = await connection.request(
+                response = await connection.arequest(
                     method, url, headers=headers, stream=stream, timeout=timeout
                 )
             except NewConnectionRequired:
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/http11.py b/httpcore/_async/http11.py
index 0930bd39..d0c4bf54 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/http11.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/http11.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def mark_as_ready(self) -> None:
         if self.state == ConnectionState.IDLE:
             self.state = ConnectionState.READY
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/http2.py b/httpcore/_async/http2.py
index eafc43d2..1346f533 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/http2.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/http2.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def mark_as_ready(self) -> None:
         if self.state == ConnectionState.IDLE:
             self.state = ConnectionState.READY
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ async def request(
             h2_stream = AsyncHTTP2Stream(stream_id=stream_id, connection=self)
             self.streams[stream_id] = h2_stream
             self.events[stream_id] = []
-            return await h2_stream.request(method, url, headers, stream, timeout)
+            return await h2_stream.arequest(method, url, headers, stream, timeout)
         except Exception:  # noqa: PIE786
-            await self.max_streams_semaphore.release()
+            self.max_streams_semaphore.release()
             raise
 
     async def send_connection_init(self, timeout: TimeoutDict) -> None:
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ def __init__(self, stream_id: int, connection: AsyncHTTP2Connection) -> None:
         self.stream_id = stream_id
         self.connection = connection
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
diff --git a/httpcore/_async/http_proxy.py b/httpcore/_async/http_proxy.py
index fe6ec0b5..dc3fc9d6 100644
--- a/httpcore/_async/http_proxy.py
+++ b/httpcore/_async/http_proxy.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def __init__(
             max_keepalive=max_keepalive,
         )
 
-    async def request(
+    async def arequest(
         self,
         method: bytes,
         url: URL,
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ async def _forward_request(
             reason_phrase,
             headers,
             stream,
-        ) = await connection.request(
+        ) = await connection.arequest(
             method, url, headers=headers, stream=stream, timeout=timeout
         )
 
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ async def _tunnel_request(
                 proxy_reason_phrase,
                 _,
                 proxy_stream,
-            ) = await proxy_connection.request(
+            ) = await proxy_connection.arequest(
                 b"CONNECT", connect_url, headers=connect_headers, timeout=timeout
             )
             logger.trace(
@@ -249,8 +249,12 @@ async def _tunnel_request(
             reason_phrase,
             headers,
             stream,
-        ) = await connection.request(
-            method, url, headers=headers, stream=stream, timeout=timeout
+        ) = await connection.arequest(
+            method,
+            url,
+            headers=headers,
+            stream=stream,
+            timeout=timeout,
         )
 
         wrapped_stream = ResponseByteStream(
diff --git a/httpcore/_sync/http_proxy.py b/httpcore/_sync/http_proxy.py
index d09872bc..71805140 100644
--- a/httpcore/_sync/http_proxy.py
+++ b/httpcore/_sync/http_proxy.py
@@ -250,7 +250,11 @@ def _tunnel_request(
             headers,
             stream,
         ) = connection.request(
-            method, url, headers=headers, stream=stream, timeout=timeout
+            method,
+            url,
+            headers=headers,
+            stream=stream,
+            timeout=timeout,
         )
 
         wrapped_stream = ResponseByteStream(
diff --git a/tests/async_tests/test_interfaces.py b/tests/async_tests/test_interfaces.py
index 18a6a254..a6f0f687 100644
--- a/tests/async_tests/test_interfaces.py
+++ b/tests/async_tests/test_interfaces.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ async def test_http_request(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ async def test_https_request(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"https", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ async def test_request_unsupported_protocol(backend: str) -> None:
         url = (b"ftp", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
         with pytest.raises(httpcore.UnsupportedProtocol):
-            await http.request(method, url, headers)
+            await http.arequest(method, url, headers)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ async def test_http2_request(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"https", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ async def test_closing_http_request(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org"), (b"connection", b"close")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ async def test_http_request_reuse_connection(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ async def test_http_request_reuse_connection(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ async def test_https_request_reuse_connection(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"https", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ async def test_https_request_reuse_connection(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"https", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ async def test_http_request_cannot_reuse_dropped_connection(backend: str) -> Non
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ async def test_http_request_cannot_reuse_dropped_connection(backend: str) -> Non
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ async def test_http_proxy(proxy_server: URL, proxy_mode: str, backend: str) -> N
         max_connections=max_connections,
         backend=backend,
     ) as http:
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ async def test_http_request_local_address(backend: str) -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ async def test_proxy_https_requests(
         max_connections=max_connections,
         http2=http2,
     ) as http:
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         _ = await read_body(stream)
@@ -313,8 +313,8 @@ async def test_connection_pool_get_connection_info(
         url = (b"https", b"example.org", 443, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
 
-        _, _, _, _, stream_1 = await http.request(method, url, headers)
-        _, _, _, _, stream_2 = await http.request(method, url, headers)
+        _, _, _, _, stream_1 = await http.arequest(method, url, headers)
+        _, _, _, _, stream_2 = await http.arequest(method, url, headers)
 
         try:
             stats = await http.get_connection_info()
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ async def test_http_request_unix_domain_socket(
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"localhost", None, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"localhost")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         assert http_version == b"HTTP/1.1"
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ async def test_max_keepalive_connections_handled_correctly(
 
         connections_streams = []
         for _ in range(connections_number):
-            _, _, _, _, stream = await http.request(method, url, headers)
+            _, _, _, _, stream = await http.arequest(method, url, headers)
             connections_streams.append(stream)
 
         try:
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ async def test_explicit_backend_name() -> None:
         method = b"GET"
         url = (b"http", b"example.org", 80, b"/")
         headers = [(b"host", b"example.org")]
-        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.request(
+        http_version, status_code, reason, headers, stream = await http.arequest(
             method, url, headers
         )
         await read_body(stream)
diff --git a/unasync.py b/unasync.py
index 6e9d17c0..ebf38a13 100755
--- a/unasync.py
+++ b/unasync.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     ('async with', 'with'),
     ('async for', 'for'),
     ('await ', ''),
+    ('arequest', 'request'),
     ('aclose', 'close'),
     ('aclose_func', 'close_func'),
     ('aiterator', 'iterator'),