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

"Some of the metrics we use now are not really sufficient whereas the '3-30-300' metric really demands that nature is brought to the areas that people actually live and work in," Weisser said.

From Science Daily

Sidhu has also had to fend off scam calls from people pretending to have her dog and demanding the reward money.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the issues they face are high energy costs, weaker than expected demand for electric cars and growing competition from Chinese manufacturers.

From BBC

Ross’ 2018 Oscar-nominated documentary, “Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” depicted the lives of Black people in a disenfranchised Alabama community with powerful, poetic imagery that demanded your full attention.

From Los Angeles Times

He adds of Coppola: “Of course he would put a very operatic soundtrack on this film, because it’s what it deserves. In fact, it’s what it’s calling for. It’s what it demands.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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