demand

[ dih-mand, -mahnd ]

/ dɪˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd /

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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.

Nearby words

demagogic, demagogue, demagoguery, demagoguism, demagogy, demand, demand bid, demand bill, demand curve, demand deposit, demand feeding

Idioms

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

Origin of demand

1250–1300; Middle English demaunden < Anglo-French demaunder < Medieval Latin dēmandāre to demand, L to entrust, equivalent to dē- de- + mandāre to commission, order; see mandate

SYNONYMS FOR demand

3 exact.

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Related forms

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

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for demand

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
Yazbek says the demand for safe crossing has made the smugglers very competitive.
Inside the Smuggling Networks Flooding Europe with Refugees|Barbie Latza Nadeau|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The lawyers decided to stay in Chechnya and demand investigation of illegal actions against them and their office.
Putin’s Favorite Acolyte Terrorizes Human Rights Activists|Anna Nemtsova|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was through this work that Bensoussan discovered there was a demand for ministers to perform weddings at jails and prisons.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Meantime, Allison and Kitty, hurrying home with their guest, had delighted Norah by a demand for early supper.
The Little Colonel at Boarding-School|Annie Fellows Johnston
When a senator assumes to speak for the President, every senator possesses a public right to demand his authority for so doing.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. II of 2)|Thomas Hart Benton
“It will frighten the rest, who will soon come to terms, and agree to pay any tribute I may demand,” observed the rajah.
The Young Rajah|W.H.G. Kingston
The engine having proved itself indispensable, the demand for it was becoming great and pressing from various countries.
James Watt|Andrew Carnegie
Demand of him some proofs at least, of his being the messenger of the Deity.
Life of Tecumseh, and of His Brother the Prophet|Benjamin Drake

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 Formsdemandable, 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

Word Origin and History for demand (1 of 2)

demand

late 14c., "ask, make inquiry," from Old French demander (12c.) "to request; to demand," from Latin demandare "entrust, charge with a commission" (in Vulgar Latin, "to ask, request, demand"), from de- "completely" (see de-) + mandare "to order" (see mandate). Meaning "to ask for as a right" is early 15c., from Anglo-French legal use. Related: Demanded; demanding.

Word Origin and History for demand (1 of 2)

demand

late 13c., "a question," from Old French demande (see demand (v.)). Meaning "a request, claim" is from c.1300. In the political economy sense (correlating to supply) it is attested from 1776 in Adam Smith.

Culture 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.)

Idioms and Phrases with demand

demand

see in demand; make demands on; on demand.

demand

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of demand

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for demand

British Dictionary definitions for demand

demand

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

noun

Word Origin for demand

Word Origin and History for demand (1 of 2)

demand

Word Origin and History for demand (1 of 2)

demand

Culture definitions for demand

demand

Idioms and Phrases with demand

demand