demand

[ dih-mand, -mahnd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to ask for with proper authority; claim as a right:

   He demanded payment of the debt.

2. to ask for peremptorily or urgently:

   He demanded sanctuary. She demanded that we let her in.

3. to call for or require as just, proper, or necessary:

   This task demands patience. Justice demands objectivity.

   Synonyms: exact

4. Law.
   1. to lay formal legal claim to.
   2. to summon, as to court.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a demand; inquire; ask.

noun

1. the act of demanding.
2. something that is demanded.
3. an urgent or pressing requirement:

   demands upon one's time.

4. Economics.
   1. the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so.
   2. the quantity of goods that buyers will take at a particular price.
5. a requisition; a legal claim:

   The demands of the client could not be met.

6. the state of being wanted or sought for purchase or use:

   an article in great demand.

7. Archaic. inquiry; question.

demand

/ dɪˈmɑːnd /

verb

1. to request peremptorily or urgently
2. to require or need as just, urgent, etc

   the situation demands attention

3. to claim as a right; exact

   his parents demanded obedience of him

4. law to make a formal legal claim to (property, esp realty)

noun

1. an urgent or peremptory requirement or request
2. something that requires special effort or sacrifice

   a demand on one's time

3. the act of demanding something or the thing demanded

   the kidnappers' demand was a million pounds

4. an insistent question or query
5. economics
   1. willingness and ability to purchase goods and services
   2. the amount of a commodity that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a specified price Compare supply 1
6. law a formal legal claim, esp to real property
7. in demand
   sought after; popular
8. on demand
   as soon as requested

   a draft payable on demand

demand

1. The amount of any given commodity that people are ready and able to buy at a given time for a given price. ( See supply and demand .)

Derived Forms

• deˈmander, noun
• deˈmandable, adjective

Other Words From

• de·manda·ble adjective
• de·mander noun
• counter·de·mand noun
• over·de·mand verb noun
• prede·mand verb (used with object)
• super·de·mand noun
• unde·manded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of demand¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English demaunden, from Anglo-French demaunder, from Medieval Latin dēmandāre “to demand,” Latin “to entrust,” equivalent to dē- negative prefix + mandāre “to commission, order”; de-, mandate

Word History and Origins

Origin of demand¹

C13: from Anglo-French demaunder, from Medieval Latin dēmandāre, from Latin: to commit to, from de- + mandāre to command, entrust; see mandate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on demand, upon presentation or request for payment:

   The fee is payable on demand.

More idioms and phrases containing demand

see in demand ; make demands on ; on demand .

Synonym Study

Demand, claim, require imply making an authoritative request. To demand is to ask in a bold, authoritative way: to demand an explanation. To claim is to assert a right to something: He claimed it as his due. To require is to ask for something as being necessary; to compel: The Army requires absolute obedience of its soldiers.

Example Sentences

For two years she has eschewed demands for a Medicare for All vote that centrist worried would repel swing voters in their GOP-leaning districts.

From Washington Post

The film, which was supposed to be in theaters earlier this year, is coming out via video-on-demand on Friday as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend theatrical release schedules.

From Fortune

Similarly, Barr is often accused of undermining core Justice Department norms, particularly with his interventions in the Roger Stone and Michael Flynn cases and in his demand for an investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation.

From Washington Post

Oil demand is in a slump and it won’t recover any time soon.

From Fortune

That leaves them reliant on portable air filtration devices, which are often effective but can also be hard to find right now due to coronavirus-driven demand.

From Fortune

So we do demand justice and we do speak up and make demands.

From The Daily Beast

“Competition is there, of course, but I think there is enough business for everyone as long as the demand is there,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

In doing so he exposed the failure of other airlines in the region to see the huge pent-up demand for cheap travel.

From The Daily Beast

Judging from current figures, there would be a substantial demand for this option, too.

From The Daily Beast

There is one time, however, when couple dancing is in high demand, and that is around weddings.

From The Daily Beast

You see, I am the city undertaker, and the people are dying here so fast, that I can hardly supply the demand for coffins.

From Project Gutenberg

Wordsworth has illustrated how an unwise and importunate demand for a reason from a child may drive him into invention.

From Project Gutenberg

Fajardo seconds the demand of the citizens of Manila that the Audiencia be suppressed, alleging that it does more harm than good.

From Project Gutenberg

England proclaimed a rough indignation at the demand for Gibraltar, which Austria had made in behalf of Spain.

From Project Gutenberg

This demand was made with scornful seriousness; with a ruthless application to the feelings of a son.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• appeal
• application
• call
• claim
• insistence
• interest
• need
• order
• requirement
• sale
• trade