demand

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/dɪˈmɑːnd/

/dɪˈmænd/

Idioms

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[countable] a very strong request for something; something that somebody needs
- demand for something a demand for higher pay
- demand that… demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed
- A federal judge rejected their demands.
- The management had no intention of meeting union demands.
Extra Examples
- A ransom demand has been made for the kidnapped racehorse.
- Campaigners have stepped up their demands for immediate government action.
- Demands have been made for the immediate distribution of food to the refugees.
- I think your demand for a higher salary is perfectly reasonable.
- My government cannot give in to the demands of an illegal organization.
- The reporter refused their demand that he reveal his sources.
- There have been new demands for the government to take action to reduce crime.
- demands from the opposition for a recount of the votes
- Every now and then there are demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed.
- Our firm is constantly striving to satisfy customers' demands.
- Their demand for higher pay was ignored.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- legitimate
- realistic
- reasonable
- …
verb + demand
- issue
- make
- present
- …
preposition
- on demand
- demand for
- demand from
- …
See full entry
demands
[plural] things that somebody/something makes you do, especially things that are difficult, make you tired, worried, etc.
- Juggling the demands of work and family is never easy.
- She shouldn't always give in to his demands.
- demands on somebody As a director he makes huge demands on his actors.
- Flying makes enormous demands on pilots.
Extra Examples
- the day-to-day demands of the job
- We must prepare children to respond to the demands of work.
- coping with the conflicting demands of work and family life
- The emotional demands of the job can be overwhelming.
- Teacher training has to evolve to meet the changing demands of the profession.
- How do they cope with the conflicting demands of work and family life?
- I think the demands of this job are excessive.
- Juggling the daily demands of career and family is rewarding, but never easy.
- Life is hard for nurses on children's wards, where the emotional demands can be overwhelming.
- My elderly parents make a lot of demands on me.
- My work seems to make more and more demands on my time.
- The person who cannot say ‘no’ to others' requests is likely to be overwhelmed by external demands.
- the need for scientific research freed from the immediate demands of industry
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- considerable
- enormous
- excessive
- …
verb + demands
- impose
- make
- place
- …
preposition
- demand on
- demand upon
See full entry
[uncountable, singular] the desire or need of customers for goods or services that they want to buy or use
- Demand is exceeding supply.
- It is becoming more difficult for us to meet demand.
- demand for something/somebody Consumer demand for organic foods continues to increase rapidly.
- We are struggling to satisfy the demand for the product.
- We are seeing an increased demand for housing in the area.
- increasing/growing/rising demand
- to stimulate/boost/increase demand
see also print on demand, supply and demand
Collocations The economy
The economyManaging the economy
- handle/run/manage the economy
- boost investment/spending/employment/growth
- stimulate demand/the economy/industry
- cut/reduce investment/spending/borrowing
- reduce/curb/control/keep down inflation
- create/fuel growth/demand/a boom/a bubble
- encourage/foster/promote/stimulate/stifle innovation/competition
- encourage/work with/compete with the private sector
- increase/boost/promote US/agricultural exports
- ban/restrict/block cheap/foreign imports
- the economy grows/expands/shrinks/contracts/slows (down)/recovers/improves/is booming
- enjoy an economic/housing/property boom
Economic problems
- push up/drive up prices/costs/inflation
- damage/hurt/destroy industry/the economy
- cause/lead to/go into/avoid/escape recession
- experience/suffer a recession/downturn
- fight/combat inflation/deflation/unemployment
- cause/create inflation/poverty/unemployment
- create/burst a housing/stock market bubble
- cause/trigger a stock market crash/the collapse of the banking system
- face/be plunged into a financial/an economic crisis
- be caught in/experience cycles of boom and bust
Public finance
- cut/reduce/slash/increase/double the defence/education/aid budget
- increase/boost/slash/cut public spending
- increase/put up/raise/cut/lower/reduce taxes
- raise/cut/lower/reduce interest rates
- ease/loosen/tighten monetary policy
- balance the (state/federal) budget
- achieve/maintain a balanced budget
- run a ($4 trillion) budget deficit/surplus
- impose taxes/austerity measures
Extra Examples
- a high level of demand
- As demand slows, the need to export will return.
- Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.
- Demand for the product is buoyant.
- In the housing market, demand is outstripping supply.
- It can be difficult to forecast demand in the construction industry.
- It is the job of the marketing manager to create demand for the new product.
- Low interest rates are fuelling demand for credit.
- Supply normally exceeds demand for the bulk of consumer goods.
- The factories are staying open all weekend to try to meet the consumer demand for this product.
- The slowdown in domestic demand was offset by an increase in exports.
- There's always a great demand for our soups in winter.
- We can estimate that total market demand for electrical goods will rise by 8%.
- policies aimed at managing demand
- the demand from consumers
- the law of supply and demand
- the potential demand among children
- An ageing population is placing an increasing demand on health services.
- The scheme aims to provide bed space for tourism in times of high demand.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- big
- buoyant
- considerable
- …
… of demand
- level
verb + demand
- accommodate
- cope with
- fulfil/fulfill
- …
demand + verb
- grow
- increase
- rise
- …
preposition
- in demand
- demand among
- demand for
- …
phrases
- supply and demand
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English (as a noun): from Old French demande (noun), demander (verb), from Latin demandare ‘hand over, entrust’ (in medieval Latin ‘demand’), from de- ‘formally’ + mandare ‘to order’.

Idioms

by popular demand

because a lot of people have asked for something
- By popular demand, the play will run for another week.

in demand

wanted by a lot of people
- Good secretaries are always in demand.
Extra Examples
- She is in constant demand to make public appearances and give interviews.
- These old machines are still in demand.

on demand

done or happening whenever somebody asks
- Feed the baby on demand.
- The service allows you to watch video on demand.
- Campaigners insist that abortion should be available on demand.
see also on-demand

demand

verb

/dɪˈmɑːnd/

/dɪˈmænd/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they demand	/dɪˈmɑːnd/ /dɪˈmænd/
he / she / it demands	/dɪˈmɑːndz/ /dɪˈmændz/
past simple demanded	/dɪˈmɑːndɪd/ /dɪˈmændɪd/
past participle demanded	/dɪˈmɑːndɪd/ /dɪˈmændɪd/
-ing form demanding	/dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ/ /dɪˈmændɪŋ/

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to make a very strong request for something
- demand something They are demanding the release of all political prisoners.
- You should demand an apology in writing.
- Protesters demanded the resignation of the prime minister.
- demand that… The UN has demanded that all troops be withdrawn.
- (British English also) They are demanding that all troops should be withdrawn.
- The judge demanded that we turn off our phones.
- demand to do something I demand to see the manager.
- demand something of somebody We demand a lot of our teachers.
- demand something from somebody He had demanded money from her.
Synonyms demand
demand
- require
- expect
- insist
- ask
These words all mean to say that somebody should do or have something.
- demand to make a very strong request for something; to say very definitely that somebody should have or do something:
  She demanded an immediate explanation.
- require [often passive] (rather formal) to make somebody do or have something, especially because it is necessary according to a law or set of rules or standards:
  All candidates will be required to take a short test.
- expect to demand that somebody should do, have or be something, especially because it is their duty or responsibility:
  I expect to be paid promptly for the work.
- insist to demand that something happens or that somebody agrees to do something:
  I didn’t want to go but he insisted.
  We insist on the highest standards at all times.
- ask to expect or demand something:
  You’re asking too much of him.
demand, expect or ask?Ask is not as strong as demand or expect, both of which can be more like a command.Patterns
- to demand/require/expect/ask something of/from somebody
- to demand/require/expect/insist/ask that…
- to require/expect/ask somebody to do something
- to demand/require/expect/ask a lot/too much/a great deal
- to be too much to expect/ask
Synonyms ask
ask
- enquire
- demand
These words all mean to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information.
- ask to say or write something in the form of a question, in order to get information:
  ‘Where are you going?’ she asked.
  She asked the students their names.
  Can I ask a question?
- enquire/inquire (rather formal) to ask somebody for information:
  I called the station to enquire about train times.
- demand to make a very strong request for information:
  ‘And where have you been?’ he demanded angrily.
Patterns
- to ask/enquire about/after somebody/something
- to ask/enquire/demand something of somebody
- to ask/enquire/demand what/who/how, etc.
- to ask/enquire politely
- to ask/enquire/demand angrily
Extra Examples
- They failed to provide the information demanded of them.
- They demanded to see the ambassador.
- They're demanding a better deal for themselves and their families.
- The group demands a high level of loyalty from its members.
- He is also a cold-hearted killer when Queen and Country demand it of him.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- angrily
- coldly
- furiously
- …
preposition
- from
- of
See full entry
+ speech to ask a question in an angry or aggressive way
- ‘Who the hell are you?’ he demanded angrily.
Extra Examples
- ‘Where are the keys?’ she demanded angrily.
- ‘And where have you been?’ he demanded angrily.
- ‘What's your name?’ she demanded of the girl.
demand something (of customers) to want or need goods or services
- Today's consumers are demanding a greater variety of produce.
- Our customers demand quality and reliability most of all.
to need something in order to be successful at something
- demand something This sport demands both speed and strength.
- This is music that demands great technical skill.
- She can be a very tough negotiator when the situation demands it.
- be demanded of somebody High personal standards are demanded of all applicants.