Meaning of demand In English

• 0 to ask for something forcefully, in a way that shows that you do not expect to be refused:

  • I demanded an explanation.

  • The union is demanding a seven percent pay rise this year.

  • He has always demanded the highest standards of behaviour from his children.

  • [ + speech ] "And where do you think you're going?" demanded the police officer.

  • [ + to infinitive ] I demand to see the manager.

  • [ + that ] She demanded that he return the books he borrowed from her.

• 1 to need something such as time, effort, or a particular quality:

  • This is a very difficult piece of music to play - it demands a lot of concentration.

  • He seems to lack many of the qualities demanded of (= needed by) a successful politician.

• 2 a strong request:

  • You can't give in to children's demands all the time.

  • The government is unlikely to agree to the rebels' demands for independence.

  • UK They received a final demand (= a last request) for payment.

• 3 a need for something to be sold or supplied:

  • There was little demand for tickets.

  • Good teachers are always in (great) demand (= are always needed).

  • The demands of nursing are too great for a lot of people.

  • His new job makes a lot of demands on him (= he has to work very hard).

• 4 to ask for forcefully, in a way that shows that refusal is not expected and will not be accepted:

  • [ T ] The library demanded $5 for each book returned late.

  • [ + to infinitive ] I demand to see the person in charge.

  • [ T ] The twins demand a lot of attention.

• 5 something asked for forcefully, or something that you accept as necessary:

  • [ C ] The union’s major demand was for improved benefits.

  • [ C ] The demands of nursing are too great for a lot of people.

  • [ C ] We can’t meet the demand for tickets to the game.

  • [ U ] Good teachers are always in demand (= needed).

  • There was weak demand for imported goods last month.

• 6 a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use:

  • increasing/rising/growing demand

  • declining/falling/slowing demand

  • high/strong/huge demand

  • a decline/drop/shift in demand

  • Colourful Ceramics hope to tap into the demand for products made out of recycled materials.

  • a rise/increase/boom in demand

  • demand rises/grows/falls As populations age, demand rises for ever more complex and expensive health treatments.

  • demand exceeds/outstrips supply

  • to increase/decrease/satisfy demand

  • Safecare says it has thrived by meeting a demand for affordable insurance.

  • For the moment, strong customer demand is helping all four operators grow quickly.

  • Rising prices for land and the need for security create demand for gated high-rise units.

  • bolster/boost/fuel demand The dollar rose as buying of U.S. securities bolstered demand for the currency.

• 7 the fact of customers buying goods and using services in an economy, and the amount that they buy:

  • demand grows/recovers Pilkington said prices and demand were growing in Europe.

  • There are signs of a slowdown in domestic demand.

  • Grain prices are increasing, helped by both the strengthening U.S. economy and accelerating demand from China.

• 8 a strong request for something:

  • a demand for sth/a demand that There was a demand that customers be compensated for the inconvenience they had suffered.

  • accept/agree to/reject a demand

• 9 a letter requesting that someone pays money that they owe:

  • Defaulting customers received a final demand for payment.

• 10 the things that a particular situation or person makes necessary:

  • demands on sb/sth Most managers feel there are too many demands on their time.

  • changing/competing/conflicting demands Staff are forced to face the conflicting demands of workplace and home.

  • meet/respond to/satisfy the demands of sth Farmers need to modernize their tobacco production to meet the demands of a competitive market.

• 11 used for describing goods or services that customers would buy or use if they were available:

  • Banking shares were also in demand, amid continued hopes of consolidation in the sector.

  • The company must develop the right products - those that are in demand by their prospective clientele.

• 12 as soon as a request is made:

  • The bank stated that there was little point in adding to small firms' worries by making overdrafts payable on demand.

  • Television, movies, music, and computer games are now available on demand in homes over high-speed data links.

  • The network is available on various cable operators' on-demand services.

• 13 an economic law that states that people buy less of a product when the price is high, and more when the price is low:

  • This is the normal law of demand, in which the quantity of corn demanded increases as the price of corn declines.

• 14 to make a strong request for something:

  • Miller was expected to go back to the bidders last night to demand a further rise in price.

  • If the Revenue thinks you have underpaid it will demand payment and can charge a penalty of interest.

  • Shareholders in the company are demanding the resignation of the chief executive.