demanding
Americanadjective
-
requiring or claiming more than is generally felt by others to be due.
a demanding teacher.
-
calling for intensive effort or attention; taxing.
a demanding job.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of demanding
Explanation
Something that's demanding calls for more work or skill than the typical task. Babysitting might seem like an easy job, but depending on the kids it can actually be incredibly demanding. A demanding job might require a lot of physical work, like farming, or a lot of patience and diplomacy, like being a teacher or a marriage counselor. When a person is described as demanding, it usually means that he or she has very high standards or is especially hard to satisfy. The word comes from the Old French demander, "to request or demand," by way of the Latin demandare, "entrust."
Vocabulary lists containing demanding
Prince (1958-2016) Tribute List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Difficult
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This fall, a wave of protests first initiated by high-school students demanding improved facilities led to a nationwide breakdown in law and order on Oct.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The central bank seized the digital lender, and people took to the streets protesting and demanding Peña's resignation.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
On May 6, Kato ordered prosecutors to produce a slew of records that the attorneys had been demanding, including all communications about the incident produced by any officer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
Investors have been demanding proof that the billions pouring into artificial intelligence are producing something more than great expectations.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
Several months later, three hundred suffragists in Oakland, California, marched to a state political convention demanding the right to vote.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.