demand

¹de·mand

noun \di-ˈmand, -ˈmänd, dē-\

Definition of DEMAND

1

a : an act of demanding or asking especially with authority <a demand for obedience>

b : something claimed as due <a list of demands>

2

archaic : question

3

a : 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

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>

— on demand

: upon presentation and request for payment; also : when requested or needed <video on demand>

Examples of DEMAND

1. The committee is considering her demand that she be given more time to complete the study.
2. The workers said they would not end the strike until their demands were met.
3. The demand for low-income housing is increasing as the economy gets worse.
4. We are seeing an increased demand for hospital beds.
5. The company increased production to meet demand.

First Known Use of DEMAND

13th century

Related to DEMAND

Synonyms

claim, dun, importunity, requisition, ultimatum

Antonyms

nonessential, nonnecessity

Related Words

desire, request, want, wish; drive, need, requirement, stipulation; basic, essential, must; imposition; condition, provision

Near Antonyms

amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with DEMAND

armband, at hand, backhand, backland, badland, bandstand, barehand, benchland, blackland, brass band, broadband, brushland, bushland, cabstand, cloudland, coastland, co-brand, command, cowhand, crash-land, cropland, crown land, dead hand, deckhand, disband, dockhand, dockland, downland, dreamland, dryland, duneland, expand, farmhand, farmland, fenland, field hand, filmland, firebrand, firsthand, flatland, forehand, four-hand, free hand, freehand, gangland, glad-hand, Gotland, grandstand, grassland, handstand, hardstand, hatband, headband, headstand, heartland, heathland, home stand, hour hand, Iceland, in hand, inkstand, inland, iron hand, jack stand, jug band, kickstand, Kokand, Lapland, left-hand, longhand, lymph gland, mainland, marshland, misbrand, newsstand, nightstand, northland, noseband, off-brand, offhand, oil gland, old hand, on hand, outland, outstand, parkland, passband, pineland, playland, proband, Queensland, quicksand, rangeland, remand, repand, Rhineland, ribband, right-hand, rimland, ring stand, roband, salt gland, scabland, screenland, scrubland, seastrand, shorthand, sideband, southland, spaceband, stagehand, steel band, summand, swampland, sweatband, sweat gland, tar sand, Thailand, thirdhand, tideland, trainband, unhand, unmanned, waistband, washstand, watchband, wave band, wetland, whip hand, wildland, withstand, wristband, X band

²demand

verb

Definition of DEMAND

intransitive verb

: 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, peremptorily, 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>

— de·mand·able \-ˈman-də-bəl\ adjective

— de·mand·er noun

Examples of DEMAND

1. The customer demanded a refund.
2. Parents have demanded that the teacher resign.
3. The reporter demanded to see the documents.
4. I demand to know what is going on here!
5. “Come here at once!” he demanded.
6. “Why won't you answer me?” she demanded.
7. The situation demands immediate action.

Origin of DEMAND

Middle English demaunden, from Anglo-French demander, from Medieval Latin demandare, from Latin, to entrust, charge, from de- + mandare to enjoin — more at mandate

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DEMAND

Synonyms

call (for), claim, clamor (for), command, enjoin, exact, insist (on), press (for), quest, stipulate (for)

Antonyms

have, hold

Related Words

ask, plead (for), request, want; cry (for), necessitate, need, require, take, warrant; requisition; impose; badger, dun, harass, hound

Near Antonyms

give up, relinquish, surrender, yield

Synonym Discussion of DEMAND

demand, claim, require, exact 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>. 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>. 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>. exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands <exacts absolute loyalty>.