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

According to concert promoter Live Nation, the 2024 arena run was “met with incredible demand,” prompting the addition of shows in Paris and Dallas and two in São Paulo.

From Los Angeles Times

The goal was to raise more funds to meet the increasing demand to access abortion care, regardless of who would win the presidential election the following week.

From Salon

He highlighted the increased costs for councils from inflation, wages and demand for local services and urged the minister to ensure they did not have to close libraries, cut bus routes or reduce road repairs as a result.

From BBC

The demand for Glastonbury tickets inevitably attracts scam artists and fraudsters, who prey on people's desperation to separate them from their money.

From BBC

No headliners have been announced yet, but demand is expected to be higher than ever because the festival will take a year off in 2026.

From BBC

Related Words

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