demand
1 of 2noun
de·mand di-ˈmand 
-ˈmänd,
dē-
1
a
: an act of demanding or asking especially with authority
a demand for obedience
b
: something claimed as due or owed
the demands of the workers' union
2
archaic : question
3
a
economics : willingness and ability to purchase a commodity or service
the demand for quality day care
b
: the quantity of a commodity or service wanted at a specified price and time
supply and demand
4
a
: a seeking or state of being sought after
in great demand as an entertainer
b
: urgent need
an increased demand for blood donations
5
: the requirement of work or of the expenditure of a resource
equal to the demands of the office
demands on one's time
oxygen demand for waste oxidation
demand
2 of 2verb
demanded; demanding; demands
intransitive verb
: to call for something in an authoritative way : to make a demand : ask
transitive verb
1
: to ask or call for with authority : claim as due or just
demanded to see a lawyer
2
: to call for urgently, imperiously, or insistently
demanded that the rioters disperse
3
a
: to ask authoritatively or earnestly to be informed of
demand the reason for the dismissal
b
: to require to come : summon
4
: to call for as useful or necessary
etiquette demands a handwritten thank-you
demandable
di-ˈman-də-bəl
adjective -ˈmän-
dē-
demander noun
Synonyms
Noun
- claim
- dun
- importunity
- requisition
- ultimatum
Verb
- call (for)
- claim
- clamor (for)
- command
- enjoin
- exact
- insist (on)
- press (for)
- quest
- stipulate (for)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The committee is considering her demand that she be given more time to complete the study. The workers said they would not end the strike until their demands were met. The demand for low-income housing is increasing as the economy gets worse. We are seeing an increased demand for hospital beds. The company increased production to meet demand. Verb The customer demanded a refund. Parents have demanded that the teacher resign. The reporter demanded to see the documents. I demand to know what is going on here! “Come here at once!” he demanded. “Why won't you answer me?” she demanded. The situation demands immediate action. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 High demand for trucks could trigger delays in getting goods from warehouses to some stores, said Jon Cargill, chief financial officer at retailer Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. Paul Berger, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Power outages in the US are climbing, researchers reported Wednesday, as extreme weather gets worse due to the climate crisis, the demand for electricity climbs and the country’s energy infrastructure gets older and more vulnerable. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 But as demand for homes surged, sellers asked for more money, leading to double-digit annual price increases across the nation. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2022 The demand for both has increased with some people using compound pharmacies to create their own version of AMX0035. Sun Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2022 Through its partnerships with major food companies, including HelloFresh, Whole Foods and The Cheesecake Factory, the nonprofit has the potential to significantly affect demand for lobsters with this listing. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2022 The demand for colorful appliances is partly driven by a desire to have both style and performance in the kitchen. Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 As the population decreases, the demand for new movies decreases as well. Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022 Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Some messes demand a more powerful machine, while for others a compact unit will suffice. Collin Morgan And Jon Langston, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2022 Iconic tailgating food and drinks also demand more money this year. Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2022 Workers also demand the company stop funding politicians through NetPAC, a political action committee formed by Google, saying that those politicians were responsible for appointing justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Alena Botros, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 Then, having gained market control through consolidation, the PE firms demand significantly higher physician reimbursements from insurers and hospitals (25% or more). Robert Pearl, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 But in today’s video marketing universe, customers demand a human connection. Kelly Schwarze, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2022 Those legitimate questions demand legitimate answers in order to restore a collective trust in the integrity of our electoral process. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 Suppliers demand upfront payments in foreign currencies due to the uncertainties caused by the rapidly declining Sri Lankan rupee. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Noun
Hinze says similar trends are playing out to keep demand for uranium alive in Asia—the fastest growing market for nuclear energy. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2022 High demand for trucks could trigger delays in getting goods from warehouses to some stores, said Jon Cargill, chief financial officer at retailer Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. Paul Berger, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 Power outages in the US are climbing, researchers reported Wednesday, as extreme weather gets worse due to the climate crisis, the demand for electricity climbs and the country’s energy infrastructure gets older and more vulnerable. Rachel Ramirez, CNN, 14 Sep. 2022 But as demand for homes surged, sellers asked for more money, leading to double-digit annual price increases across the nation. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2022 The demand for both has increased with some people using compound pharmacies to create their own version of AMX0035. Sun Sentinel, 14 Sep. 2022 Through its partnerships with major food companies, including HelloFresh, Whole Foods and The Cheesecake Factory, the nonprofit has the potential to significantly affect demand for lobsters with this listing. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2022 The demand for colorful appliances is partly driven by a desire to have both style and performance in the kitchen. Kristina Mcguirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2022 As the population decreases, the demand for new movies decreases as well. Gianmaria Tammaro, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022 Verb
America’s version, or similar breeds such as France’s liberté, egalité, fraternité, demand political conviction, civic engagement and constant vigilance. Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Some messes demand a more powerful machine, while for others a compact unit will suffice. Collin Morgan And Jon Langston, Car and Driver, 26 Aug. 2022 Iconic tailgating food and drinks also demand more money this year. Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2022 Workers also demand the company stop funding politicians through NetPAC, a political action committee formed by Google, saying that those politicians were responsible for appointing justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Alena Botros, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2022 Then, having gained market control through consolidation, the PE firms demand significantly higher physician reimbursements from insurers and hospitals (25% or more). Robert Pearl, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 But in today’s video marketing universe, customers demand a human connection. Kelly Schwarze, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2022 Those legitimate questions demand legitimate answers in order to restore a collective trust in the integrity of our electoral process. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 Suppliers demand upfront payments in foreign currencies due to the uncertainties caused by the rapidly declining Sri Lankan rupee. Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 2 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English demaunde, demande "question, request, claim," borrowed from Anglo-French, noun derivative of demander, demaunder "to ask a question, claim as due" — more at demand entry 2
Verb
Middle English demaunden, demanden "to ask a question, ask, claim as due," borrowed from Anglo-French demander, demaunder, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēmandāre "to entrust, send, send word of, send instructions (to), make a claim on," going back to Latin, "to entrust, hand over (to), lay a duty on," from de- de- + mandāre "to hand over, deliver, order" — more at mandate entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing demand
Kids Definition
demand 1 of 2
noun
de·mand di-ˈmand
1
: a forceful expression of what is desired
a demand for money
2
: something claimed as owed
He presented a list of demands.
3
: an expressed desire to own or use something
The demand for new cars is up.
4
: a seeking or state of being sought after
Good teachers are in great demand.
demand
2 of 2verb
demanded; demanding
1
: to claim as a right
I demand an apology.
2
: to ask earnestly or in the manner of a command
The sentry demanded the password.
3
: to call for : require
The situation demands attention.
Legal Definition
demand 1 of 2
noun
de·mand
1
: a formal request or call for something (as payment for a debt) especially based on a right or made with force
a shareholder must first make a demand on the corporation's board of directors to act R. C. Clark
R. C. Clarka written demand for payment
2
: something demanded
any demands against the estate
see also claim demand
2 of 2transitive verb
: to ask or call for with force, authority, or by legal right : claim as due
on any issue triable of right by a jury, a party may demand a jury trial Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 38(b)
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 38(b)demand 1 of 2
noun
1
as in request
something that someone insists upon having agreed to the customer's demand for a refund Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- request
- requirement
- wish
- requisition
- desire
- ultimatum
- claim
- need
- must
- importunity
- basic
- dun
- provision
- stipulation
- essential
- want
- imposition
- drive
- condition
2
as in market
the state of being sought after especially for purchase a steadily declining demand for film cameras Synonyms & Similar Words
- market
- request
- call
- bear market
- bull market
- seller's market
- buyer's market
3
as in requirement
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable we are very confident that our new employee is fully equal to the demands of the job Synonyms & Similar Words
- requirement
- necessity
- must
- need
- necessary
- requisite
- needful
- essential
- condition
- prerequisite
- precondition
- sine qua non
- advantage
- must-have
- wish
- plus
- desideratum
- desideration
- edge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- surplus
- extra
- luxury
- nonnecessity
- indulgence
- comfort
- extravagance
- surplusage
- nonessential
- superfluity
- amenity
- frill
demand
2 of 2verb
1
as in to request
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority the losing party demanded a recount of the votes cast in the election Synonyms & Similar Words
- request
- require
- command
- claim
- want
- ask
- need
- exact
- quest
- enjoin
- necessitate
- requisition
- clamor (for)
- warrant
- stipulate (for)
- insist (on)
- take
- impose
- press (for)
- call (for)
- harass
- hound
- plead (for)
- cry (for)
- badger
- dun
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yield
- surrender
- give up
- relinquish
2
as in to need
to have as a requirement a task that demands one's unremitting attention Synonyms & Similar Words
- need
- require
- want
- take
- necessitate
- challenge
- warrant
- claim
- call for
- involve
- lack
- ask
- beg
- bear
- insist
- entail
- stipulate
- command
- exact
- quest
- press
- enjoin
- clamor (for)
- cry (for)
- hurt (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- have
- hold
- possess
- own
3
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price superstars of the big screen who demand millions for appearing in a movie Synonyms & Similar Words
- ask
- charge
- price
- fetch
- command
- value
- bring
- undercharge
- overcharge
- discount
- invoice
- bill
- mark up
- assess
- mark down
- sell (for)
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of demand are claim, exact, and require. While all these words mean "to ask or call for something as due or as necessary," demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.
demanded payment of the debt
While in some cases nearly identical to demand, claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.
claimed the right to manage his own affairs
The words exact and demand can be used in similar contexts, but exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.
exacts absolute loyalty
In some situations, the words require and demand are roughly equivalent. However, require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.
the patient requires constant attention