demand

1 of 2

noun

de·​mand di-ˈmand How to pronounce demand (audio)
-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 How to pronounce demand (audio)
-ˈmän-
dē-
adjective
demander noun
Phrases
on demand
: upon presentation and request for payment
also : when requested or needed
video on demand
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
Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power Big Tech’s AI boom has pushed the salaries for the best researchers to new heights. Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 In subsequent testimony, deputies who were at the scene swore under oath that Myles had been complying with their demands and did not appear aggressive when Banks struck him and let Bubo loose on Myles. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 The global demand for Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drugs is expected to help power Denmark’s GDP growth to 2.1% this year, according to a Danske Bank report. Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 The company’s stock has largely recovered from a slump endured in 2022 when a cost-of-living squeeze sapped demand for big-ticket items such as beds and hot tubs. Damian Shepherd, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024 In 2017, Huntington Beach leaders refused to change to by-district elections when faced with a demand letter from the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, which has successfully challenged several Orange County cities over their voting system. Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 Although the number of job openings in California has been dropping, there’s still strong demand for entry-level jobs at restaurants and retail stores and in health services. Don Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Only now has Washington appeared to accede to demands that Henry step aside—at a moment when prospects could hardly be less promising for a respectable, responsible democrat to ascend into the Haitian presidency, and when many armed criminals are at the ready. Amy Wilentz, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 Incorporating automation and machine learning into our software is key to meeting our market's demand for sophisticated analytics and tools that simplify and streamline complex, time-consuming and business-critical activities. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Verb
Debuted in 1986, this tight and twisty track—located close to Budapest—demands high-downforce setups, almost to the extent required in Monaco. Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 Letting go isn't your strong suit, but the Pisces new moon demands it! USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 This adaptation demands re-conceiving large chunks of plot from the ground-up while retaining Liu’s themes, not to mention visualizing concepts with less precedent onscreen than the fantasy tropes Martin deployed and subverted. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 This journey toward collective empowerment and health equity demands ongoing commitment and action. Larada Lee, Essence, 9 Mar. 2024 After a series of coordinated attacks on government buildings, the gangs are demanding Henry's ousting. Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Much to the chagrin of stakeholders who have demanded staff get back to their desks full-time, Placer.ai’s findings actually paint a busier picture of offices than other datasets. Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Those are socially important, emotionally demanding jobs. David Marchese Photograph By Mamadi Doumbouya, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Indonesian demonstrators demanded adoption of the International Labor Organization’s conventions concerning gender equality and eliminating workplace violence and harassment. Angela Charlton and Jade Le Deley, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near demand

Cite this Entry

“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demand. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

demand

1 of 2 noun
de·​mand di-ˈmand How to pronounce demand (audio)
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 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 actR. 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 trialFederal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 38(b)
demandable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on demand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!