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demand

Syllabification: (de·mand)
Pronunciation: /diˈmand/

Translate demand | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of demand

noun

  • an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right:a series of demands for far-reaching reforms
  • (demands) pressing requirements:he’s got enough demands on his time already
  • Economics the desire of purchasers, consumers, clients, employers, etc., for a particular commodity, service, or other item:a recent slump in demand a demand for specialists

verb

[reporting verb]
  • ask authoritatively or brusquely: [with direct speech]:“Where is she?” he demanded [with clause]:the police demanded that he give them the names
  • [with object] insist on having:an outraged public demanded retribution too much was being demanded of the top players
  • require; need:a complex activity demanding detailed knowledge
  • Law call into court; summon.

Phrases

in demand

sought after:all these skills are much in demand

on demand

as soon as or whenever required:he promised us endless coffee on demand [as modifier]:an on-demand movie service on broadband

Derivatives

demander

noun

Origin:

Middle English (as a noun): from Old French demande (noun), demander (verb), from Latin demandare 'hand over, entrust' (in medieval Latin 'demand'), from de- 'formally' + mandare 'to order'

demand in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of demand in the British & World English dictionary