DEMAND Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

DEMAND Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms demand American [dih- mand , - mahnd ] / dɪˈmænd, -ˈmɑnd / verb (used with object) to ask for with proper authority; claim as a right. He demanded payment of the debt. to ask for peremptorily or urgently. He demanded sanctuary. She demanded that we let her in. to call for or require as just, proper, or necessary. This task demands patience. Justice demands objectivity. Synonyms: exact Law. to lay formal legal claim to. to summon, as to court. verb (used without object) to make a demand; inquire; ask. noun the act of demanding. something that is demanded. an urgent or pressing requirement. demands upon one's time. Economics. the desire to purchase, coupled with the power to do so. the quantity of goods that buyers will take at a particular price. a requisition; a legal claim. The demands of the client could not be met. the state of being wanted or sought for purchase or use. an article in great demand. Archaic. inquiry; question. idioms on demand , upon presentation or request for payment. The fee is payable on demand. demand British / dɪˈmɑːnd / verb to request peremptorily or urgently to require or need as just, urgent, etc the situation demands attention to claim as a right; exact his parents demanded obedience of him law to make a formal legal claim to (property, esp realty) "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 noun an urgent or peremptory requirement or request something that requires special effort or sacrifice a demand on one's time the act of demanding something or the thing demanded the kidnappers' demand was a million pounds an insistent question or query economics willingness and ability to purchase goods and services the amount of a commodity that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a specified price Compare supply 1 law a formal legal claim, esp to real property sought after; popular as soon as requested a draft payable on demand "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 demand Cultural The amount of any given commodity that people are ready and able to buy at a given time for a given price. ( See supply and demand .) demand More Idioms see in demand ; make demands on ; on demand . Related Words Demand, claim, require imply making an authoritative request. To demand is to ask in a bold, authoritative way: to demand an explanation. To claim is to assert a right to something: He claimed it as his due. To require is to ask for something as being necessary; to compel: The Army requires absolute obedience of its soldiers. Other Word Forms counterdemand noun demandable adjective demander noun overdemand verb predemand verb (used with object) superdemand noun undemanded adjective Etymology Origin of demand First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English demaunden, from Anglo-French demaunder, from Medieval Latin dēmandāre “to demand,” Latin “to entrust,” equivalent to dē- negative prefix + mandāre “to commission, order”; see de- , mandate Explanation Demand means "an urgent request," like your demand that teachers give no homework on the weekend, or the act of making the request — teachers who demand that the work get done, even if it's the weekend. Demand comes from the Old French word demander, meaning "ask, make inquiry." A demand is a lot stronger than that, however. When you demand something, you want action now. A demand can also mean "to require" like cold weather that demands warm coats and boots. Demand is also an economic term, meaning "the amount of an item that can be sold," like the demand for those snow boots: high in winter and nonexistent in summer. Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing demand Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! The Industrial Revolution - Introductory Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! "Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 1 Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. The loss of these countries is the United States’ gain, as demand for pistachio continues and California remains the only consistent grower for the foreseeable future. From Salon • May 6, 2026 Memory chips are in such demand to fuel artificial-intelligence-powered data centers that they’re also lifting the prices on chips used for more conventional purposes. From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026 Infineon Technologies said revenue for the year to the end of September should grow significantly as artificial intelligence fuels demand for semiconductors. From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026 It can become unstable and demand enormous computing resources. From Science Daily • May 6, 2026 “If a driver asks for directions, you demand to see their identity card,” Nigel informs me. From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin Related Words appeal challenge claim expect force order press question request require stipulate urge Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.