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

Various investigations are under way into the military and intelligence failures and Netanyahu has rejected claims he is stalling on demands for a full-scale inquiry.

From BBC

Coroner Crispin Oliver was told it took 54 minutes for an ambulance to get to the crash due to high demand.

From BBC

In exchange for lavishing billions of dollars upon MLB teams over the last couple of decades, local television providers demanded exclusivity.

From Los Angeles Times

There are no signs that Hezbollah, or the Lebanese government, are willing to accept such a demand.

From BBC

Some recipients may have been blindsided by Ray’s demand for the return of contributions that were originally made in 2021 or 2022, when Bankman-Fried was trying to build up his stature.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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