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

Discovery had demanded that Paramount line up more secure financing.

From Los Angeles Times

The Pentagon’s demand for unrestricted access to Claude poses genuine dangers that warrant protective guardrails.

From Los Angeles Times

Sports events will create spikes in demand, for example at half time, while concerts produce "relentless, sustained pressure from start to finish".

From BBC

Block's financial report showed strong demand for its products and services, pushing up profits at the end of last year.

From BBC

In his letter, Miliband said the government's modelling "accounts for potential emissions from data centres through our projection of overall electricity demand growth, which reflects broader economic trends".

From BBC

Related Words

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