demand

American  

[dih-mand, -mahnd] / dɪˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd /

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.

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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.

idioms

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

   The fee is payable on demand.

demand British  

/ 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)

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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. sought after; popular

8. as soon as requested

   a draft payable on demand

demand Cultural  

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.)

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demand More Idioms  

1. see in demand; make demands on; on demand.

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• counterdemand noun
• demandable adjective
• demander noun
• overdemand verb
• predemand verb (used with object)
• superdemand noun
• undemanded adjective

Etymology

Origin of demand

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

Example Sentences

But not enough refineries were built to keep up with demand for the fuel and in recent years governments have imposed higher taxes on it.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

These objects demand something of the user; and in demanding it, they engage us in a way that feels lost in our era of digital interfaces.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

That means demand for gold among investors actually climbed even as prices fell.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

The demand has given rise to a burgeoning gray market, where wellness spas, multilevel marketers and telehealth websites ply the public with vials of “research grade” peptides labeled “not for human use.”

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Neel was sure, though, that his father would never do anything like demand money from widows who used to own their land.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• appeal
• challenge
• claim
• expect
• force
• order
• press
• question
• request
• require
• stipulate
• urge