demo

noun

\ˈde-(ˌ)mō

plural demos

Definition of demo

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 capitalized : democrat sense 2

2a : demonstration sense 1b

b British : demonstration sense 4

3a : demonstrator sense a

b : a recording intended to show off a song or performer to a record producer

c : an example of a product that is not yet ready to be sold a demo version of the software

4 : demographic sense 2

demo

verb

demoed also demo'd; demoing also demo'ing; demos

Definition of demo (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to give a demonstration of (something, such as a product or procedure) : to show how (something) works, is prepared, or is done The chef demoed everything. His first demo was peeling a carrot.— Michael Ruhlman One dealer didn't even have demonstration software; the only thing he could demo was the power light. — Video Magazine

2 : demolish My mom put little masks on me and my brother, gave us goggles and crowbars, and we demo'd the walls.— Matt Damon Brick salvaged from a demoed fireplace and backyard path make up the new stoop and walkway.— Natalie Rodriguez

3 : to create a demo (see demo entry 1 sense 3b) recording of (a piece of music) … spent three months rehearsing and demoing songs for their third album …— David Fricke

4 : to use (something, such as a product) in order to test its quality or value : to try out (something) The surest way to pick exactly the right ski for your needs is to first narrow your choices to a workable number … and then go out and demo three or four pairs to make your final selection.— Bill Grout

demo-

combining form

variants: or before vowels dem-

Definition of demo- (Entry 3 of 3)

: people : populace : population demography demonym

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about demo

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Examples of demo in a Sentence

Noun

She will be showing a demo of the company's new alarm system. a demo version of the software I saw a demo on how to use the computer program. The salesman gave us a demo of the vacuum cleaner, and it seemed to work very well. They sent the demo to several record companies. She cut a demo last week.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The set comes to life when viewed with an iOS device (an iPad was used for the demo), including turn it into a video game, adding characters with missions. — Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, "Apple WWDC: Apple unveils Memoji, new privacy features as part of iOS 12," 4 June 2018 The app that Apple used for a demo when showing off the new feature? — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Apple took another swipe at Facebook," 4 June 2018 For this demo, Gogo Air provided a round-trip ticket on Delta Air Lines from DCA>DTW>DCA. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "An end to in-flight Wi-Fi misery is at hand with Gogo’s 2Ku," 22 Jan. 2018 But based on early demos, there’s some reason to be excited. — Joanna Stern, WSJ, "Augmented Reality Will Put the Internet Everywhere," 22 Oct. 2018 Following the group's Motown signing -- three years after the company had passed on an unsolicited demo -- the Jackson 5 witnessed meteoric fame. — Chris Morris, chicagotribune.com, "Joe Jackson, patriarch of America's most famous musical clan, father of Michael Jackson, dead at 89," 27 June 2018 There's two-touch pinching for zooming in and out, brightness controls, an OpenGL demo running at 60 fps. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Newest Nintendo Switch Game Is Linux," 20 Feb. 2018 Enjoy an up-close demo on breaking down a whole hog, accompanied by cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. — The Courier-Journal, "50+ fun things for week of July 27-Aug. 2," 26 July 2017 Instead, local experts will discuss VR in panel discussions, and a demo may be scheduled. — Susan Delson, WSJ, "In a Los Angeles Exhibition, 3-D in All Its Dimensions," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

After showing off a demo of SpotMini opening a door like a velociraptor earlier this year, BostonDynamics is demoing their robodogs newest acquired skill. — Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, "BostonDynamic's SpotMini Is Out on Patrol," 10 May 2018 Last week, Oprea posted an Instagram video of herself demoing an eight-part, equipment-free workout that targets this muscle group from all angles. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "A Quick Equipment-Free Butt Workout From Celebrity Trainer Erin Oprea," 27 June 2018 In the video, Bure and Stokes wear looped resistance bands around their ankles and demo the moves with inspiring synchronization and enthusiasm. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Candace Cameron Bure's Lower-Body Circuit Will Strengthen Your Glutes, Hips, and Thighs," 15 Mar. 2018 The company demoed the new Google News during the I/O keynote, showing off many features in mobile-app form. — Valentina Palladino, Ars Technica, "Google News gets Material Design look, better personalization with AI," 8 May 2018 More experienced riders can check out and demo top bikes from Trek, also for rent. — Mary Forgione, latimes.com, "After 220 days, Mammoth Mountain's winter ski season comes to a close," 12 June 2018 Memoji was just one of the new immersive features demoed Monday. — Arielle Pardes, WIRED, "Tech Addiction and the Paradox of Apple's 'Screen Time' Tools," 5 June 2018 Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, demoed how the new ARKit 2 platform has improved tracking capabilities so that coders can build apps that can more realistically detail the real world. — Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, "Apple Just Debuted Powerful New Augmented Reality Features," 4 June 2018 The organization tallied the numbers in advance of JPMorgan Chase Bank's plans to demo the former Union Carbide Building, built in 1960 at a height of 215.5 meters, in New York to make way for a new headquarters. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "3 Houston buildings among world's tallest to have been torn down," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'demo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for demo

Verb

by shortening

Combining form

combining form from Greek dêmos "district, country, people, common people, political district in Attica," of uncertain origin

Note: Greek dêmos has traditionally been linked with Old Irish dám "guests, company, retinue," Old Welsh dauu, glossing Latin cliens (hence, presumably, "member of a retinue"), Modern Welsh daw, dawf "son-in-law." However, the semantic discrepancy between the two etyma is significant, and Celtic *dāmo-/*dāmā- has more recently been explained as going back to *dōmo-, a lengthened-grade adjectival derivative of Indo-European *dom-o-s, "house, household." The further traditional link with Indo-European *deh₂- "cut, divide" (whence Greek daíomai, daíesthai "to divide"; cf. tide entry 1), assuming a noun *deh₂-mos meaning originally "part, division," is still possible, though it would be deprived of any support beside Greek.