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. sought after; popular

8. 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.)

Other Word Forms

• demandable adjective
• demander noun
• counterdemand noun
• overdemand verb
• predemand verb (used with object)
• superdemand noun
• undemanded 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.

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

There’s been a poor demand for domestic leisure travel and “adverse market conditions,” the company said in its last earnings report.

From Los Angeles Times

Banowsky’s film is a love letter to the process of provocation, the kind of thoughtful, challenging art that demands time and handmade effort.

From Salon

His constant demand for gratitude has garnered international attention, but it isn’t covered much inside the U.S.

From Salon

In the global bond markets, the rates that investors demand for borrowing dropped sharply, reversing a surge earlier in the week, as confidence grew in a Fed rate cut.

From BBC

The couple's new role demanded plenty of travel, and the duchess began to feel the strain.

From BBC

Related Words

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