demand

1 of 2

noun

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 2

verb

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 

-ˈmän-

dē-

adjective

demander noun

Phrases

on demand

: upon presentation and request for payment

also : when requested or needed

video on demand

Synonyms

Noun

• request
• requirement

Verb

• request
• require
• command
• claim
• want
• ask
• need

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Harvard alleges that Trump is retaliating against it in violation of its free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment for refusing to accede to the administration's demands to control the school's governance, curriculum, and the ideology of its faculty and students. —Nate Raymond, USA Today, 24 June 2025

The researchers, who analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data, found that housing demand in Illinois has been fueled by numerous factors, including rising incomes, robust employment and population growth and higher rates of homeownership compared to the national average. —Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025

Verb

Instead of debating issues, candidates would be demanding that those behind them in the polls drop out or risk playing spoiler. —Andrew Yang, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025

Trump previously demanded allies double their spending goals to 4% of GDP in 2018. —Nino Paoli, Fortune, 25 June 2025

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

• biochemical oxygen demand
• biological oxygen demand
• by popular demand
• counter-demand
• demand deposit
• demand loan
• demand note
• demand-pull
• demand-side
• in demand
• law of supply and demand
• oxygen demand
• popular demand
• supply and demand

Rhymes for demand

• armband
• backhand
• bandstand
• baseband
• broadband
• command
• cropland
• disband
• dreamland
• expand
• farmhand
• farmland

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 verb

1

: 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

demandable

-ˈman-də-bəl 

adjective

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

a 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)

demandable adjective