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
demanded; demanding; demands
: to call for something in an authoritative way : to make a demand : ask
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
demander
noun
Synonyms
Examples of demand in a Sentence
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Ewing, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
The companies say the union hasn't responded to their latest offers and have called union demands unreasonable.
—Tom Krisher and David Koenig The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2023
The American Library Association documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022 — almost double the number of book ban attempts in 2021 and the highest number recorded since the group started compiling censorship data more than 20 years ago.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
In a statement to Fortune, Ford said Farley’s figure derived from last year’s $112,000 average compensation for a UAW employee, plus $103,000 in additional demands for base wages and premiums, as well as further $71,000 in various fringe benefits.
—Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Also, presale demand from both Vodafone Australia and One NZ customers was unprecedented in their history.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2023
This demand is partially what inspired Heretic Parfum founder Douglas Little to collaborate with cannabis brand Drew Martin on a functional fragrance called The Herbalist.
—Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 4 Sep. 2023
Fain, a 54-year-old electrician who came out of a Chrysler factory in Kokomo, Indiana, is among several labor leaders across the economy who have been escalating their demands and flexing their muscles.
—Tom Krisher, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
Of course, meeting most of the guilds’ demands will cost the studios additional millions each year, likely heightening financial pressures that have already resulted in layoffs and spending cuts.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 4 Sep. 2023
Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
A lot depends on what Azerbaijan will demand in negotiations with the Karabakh Armenians on the status of the region and to the extent that Azerbaijani security forces will be deployed there.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
But Freeform, with its long history and sizable distribution, suggests that some major channels could also be ripe for a culling, and that distributors will demand value from their programming partners.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2023
Others demanded that the president declare a climate emergency.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 20 Sep. 2023
Clad in an olive-green military-style shirt, Zelensky demanded that countries that violate U.N. principles and unjustly invade other nations be suspended from their Security Council seats.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
Here is a list of contract demands the union is making at the negotiating table.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2023
The ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes — now into their fifth and third months, respectively — have upended production schedules across Hollywood as industry creatives demand better protections, fair compensation and new regulations and restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023
The union is also demanding a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay, and other changes.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2023
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Noun
Nearly 13,000 members of the United Auto Workers at plants in Ohio, Michigan and Missouri joined in what the union described as a targeted strike that could expand to more plants if its demands for pay raises of up to 40% and other gains were not met.
—Jack Ewing, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
The companies say the union hasn't responded to their latest offers and have called union demands unreasonable.
—Tom Krisher and David Koenig The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2023
The American Library Association documented 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in 2022 — almost double the number of book ban attempts in 2021 and the highest number recorded since the group started compiling censorship data more than 20 years ago.
—Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2023
In a statement to Fortune, Ford said Farley’s figure derived from last year’s $112,000 average compensation for a UAW employee, plus $103,000 in additional demands for base wages and premiums, as well as further $71,000 in various fringe benefits.
—Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2023
Also, presale demand from both Vodafone Australia and One NZ customers was unprecedented in their history.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 4 Sep. 2023
This demand is partially what inspired Heretic Parfum founder Douglas Little to collaborate with cannabis brand Drew Martin on a functional fragrance called The Herbalist.
—Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 4 Sep. 2023
Fain, a 54-year-old electrician who came out of a Chrysler factory in Kokomo, Indiana, is among several labor leaders across the economy who have been escalating their demands and flexing their muscles.
—Tom Krisher, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Sep. 2023
Of course, meeting most of the guilds’ demands will cost the studios additional millions each year, likely heightening financial pressures that have already resulted in layoffs and spending cuts.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 4 Sep. 2023
Verb
After the sisters reveal Camelia's new haircut, their mom demands to know who cut them, with the sisters each blaming one another.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 21 Sep. 2023
A lot depends on what Azerbaijan will demand in negotiations with the Karabakh Armenians on the status of the region and to the extent that Azerbaijani security forces will be deployed there.
—Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2023
But Freeform, with its long history and sizable distribution, suggests that some major channels could also be ripe for a culling, and that distributors will demand value from their programming partners.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Sep. 2023
Others demanded that the president declare a climate emergency.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 20 Sep. 2023
Clad in an olive-green military-style shirt, Zelensky demanded that countries that violate U.N. principles and unjustly invade other nations be suspended from their Security Council seats.
—John Hudson, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2023
Here is a list of contract demands the union is making at the negotiating table.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2023
The ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes — now into their fifth and third months, respectively — have upended production schedules across Hollywood as industry creatives demand better protections, fair compensation and new regulations and restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence.
—Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2023
The union is also demanding a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay, and other changes.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of demand was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing demand
Dictionary Entries Near demand
Cite this Entry
“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demand. Accessed 26 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
demand
1 of 2 noun
de·mand
di-ˈmand 
1
a
: an act of demanding
a demand for obedience
b
: something claimed as due
a list of demands
2
a
: the ability and desire to purchase goods or services at a specified time and price
b
: the quantity of an article or service that is wanted at a specified price
the demand for quality education
supply and demand
3
: a seeking or state of being sought after
tickets are in great demand
4
: an urgent need or requirement
demands on her energy
demand
2 of 2 verb1
: to ask or call for with authority : claim as one's right
demand payment of a debt
demand an apology
2
: to ask earnestly or in the manner of a command
the guard demanded the password
3
: need entry 2 sense 2, require
an illness that demands constant care
demander
noun
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 2 transitive 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)
demandable
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on demand
Nglish: Translation of demand for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of demand for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about demand
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