demand

[ dih-mand, -mahnd ]

/ dɪˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: demand / demanded / demanding / demands on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to ask for with proper authority; claim as a right: He demanded payment of the debt.

to ask for peremptorily or urgently: He demanded sanctuary. She demanded that we let her in.

to call for or require as just, proper, or necessary: This task demands patience. Justice demands objectivity.

Law.

to lay formal legal claim to.
to summon, as to court.

verb (used without object)

to make a demand; inquire; ask.

noun

the act of demanding.

something that is demanded.

an urgent or pressing requirement: demands upon one's time.

Economics.

the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so.
the quantity of goods that buyers will take at a particular price.

a requisition; a legal claim: The demands of the client could not be met.

the state of being wanted or sought for purchase or use: an article in great demand.

Archaic. inquiry; question.

OTHER WORDS FOR demand

3 exact.

See synonyms for demand on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about demand

on demand, upon presentation or request for payment: The fee is payable on demand.

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”; see de-, mandate

synonym study for demand

3. 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 WORDS FROM demand

de·mand·a·ble, adjectivede·mand·er, nouncoun·ter·de·mand, nouno·ver·de·mand, verb, noun

pre·de·mand, verb (used with object)su·per·de·mand, nounun·de·mand·ed, adjective

Words nearby demand

demagogue, demagoguery, demagoguism, demagogy, de Man, demand, demandant, demand bid, demand bill, demand curve, demand deposit

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use demand in a sentence

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.
Trump moves closer to Pelosi in economic aid talks, and House speaker must decide next move|Rachael Bade, Erica Werner|September 17, 2020|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.
‘Antebellum’ tackles the past head on in an effort to ‘move forward’|radmarya|September 17, 2020|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.
William Barr’s eyebrow-raising ‘robber barons’ metaphor for the Trump era|Aaron Blake|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Oil demand is in a slump and it won’t recover any time soon.
There’s growing consensus that oil demand won’t make a comeback|eamonbarrett|September 17, 2020|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.
Wildfire smoke and COVID-19 are a one-two punch for indoor air quality across the U.S.|dzanemorris|September 17, 2020|Fortune
So we do demand justice and we do speak up and make demands.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|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.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|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.
Annoying Airport Delays Might Prevent You From Becoming the Next AirAsia 8501|Clive Irving|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Judging from current figures, there would be a substantial demand for this option, too.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women|Samantha Allen|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
There is one time, however, when couple dancing is in high demand, and that is around weddings.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|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.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Wordsworth has illustrated how an unwise and importunate demand for a reason from a child may drive him into invention.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Fajardo seconds the demand of the citizens of Manila that the Audiencia be suppressed, alleging that it does more harm than good.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
England proclaimed a rough indignation at the demand for Gibraltar, which Austria had made in behalf of Spain.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
This demand was made with scornful seriousness; with a ruthless application to the feelings of a son.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter

British Dictionary definitions for demand

demand

/ (dɪˈmɑːnd) /

verb (tr; may take a clause as object or an infinitive)

to request peremptorily or urgently

to require or need as just, urgent, etcthe situation demands attention

to claim as a right; exacthis parents demanded obedience of him

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

noun

an urgent or peremptory requirement or request

something that requires special effort or sacrificea demand on one's time

the act of demanding something or the thing demandedthe kidnappers' demand was a million pounds

an insistent question or query

economics

willingness and ability to purchase goods and services
the amount of a commodity that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a specified priceCompare supply 1 (def. 9)

law a formal legal claim, esp to real property

in demand sought after; popular

on demand as soon as requesteda draft payable on demand

Derived forms of demand

demandable, adjectivedemander, noun

Word Origin for demand

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for demand

demand

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.)

Other Idioms and Phrases with demand

demand

see in demand; make demands on; on demand.

demand

OTHER WORDS FOR demand

Idioms about demand

Origin of demand

synonym study for demand

OTHER WORDS FROM demand

Words nearby demand

Words related to demand

How to use demand in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demand

Derived forms of demand

Word Origin for demand

Cultural definitions for demand

Other Idioms and Phrases with demand