1 de·mand
Pronounced:
/dɪˈmænd, Brit dɪˈmɑ:nd/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural de·mandsMeaning:
1 [count] : a forceful statement in which you say that something must be done or given to you ▪ 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/satisfied. —often + for ▪ The store refused to meet the customer's demand for a refund. ▪ Parents made demands for the teacher's resignation.
2 [singular] : a strong need for something ▪ The demand for low-income housing is increasing as the economy gets worse. ▪ We are seeing an increased demand for hospital beds.
3 : the ability and need or desire to buy goods and services [noncount] ▪ The company increased production to meet demand. —often + for ▪ Demand for fresh milk has surpassed supply in the region. [=people want to buy more milk than is available] [singular] —often + for ▪ Local farmers say they will increase the number of peach trees they grow in order to meet a rising demand for peaches. [=in order to have as many peaches as customers want to buy] —see also supply and demand
4 demands [plural] a : difficult things you have to do because someone requires you to do them or because they are part of a job, activity, etc. —often + of ▪ He wasn't sure he could handle the physical demands of the work. ▪ The demands of the job became too much for him. ▪ New parents are sometimes overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood. b —used to describe something that requires a large amount of energy, time, etc. ▪ Record high temperatures have placed heavy demands on the nation's energy supplies. [=because of the high temperatures, a lot of the nation's energy is being used] ▪ A full-time job in addition to school puts great demands on her time. [=most of her time is spent working and going to school] ▪ His novels make many demands on the reader. [=his novels are difficult for people to read and understand]
2 [singular] : a strong need for something ▪ The demand for low-income housing is increasing as the economy gets worse. ▪ We are seeing an increased demand for hospital beds.
3 : the ability and need or desire to buy goods and services [noncount] ▪ The company increased production to meet demand. —often + for ▪ Demand for fresh milk has surpassed supply in the region. [=people want to buy more milk than is available] [singular] —often + for ▪ Local farmers say they will increase the number of peach trees they grow in order to meet a rising demand for peaches. [=in order to have as many peaches as customers want to buy] —see also supply and demand
4 demands [plural] a : difficult things you have to do because someone requires you to do them or because they are part of a job, activity, etc. —often + of ▪ He wasn't sure he could handle the physical demands of the work. ▪ The demands of the job became too much for him. ▪ New parents are sometimes overwhelmed by the demands of parenthood. b —used to describe something that requires a large amount of energy, time, etc. ▪ Record high temperatures have placed heavy demands on the nation's energy supplies. [=because of the high temperatures, a lot of the nation's energy is being used] ▪ A full-time job in addition to school puts great demands on her time. [=most of her time is spent working and going to school] ▪ His novels make many demands on the reader. [=his novels are difficult for people to read and understand]
in demand
: needed or wanted by many people ▪ Tickets for her concerts are always in great demand. ▪ Good plumbers are in demand in our town.
on demand
: when needed or wanted ▪ Help is available 24 hours a day on demand. ▪ The debt is payable on demand. [=it must be paid whenever the person who is owed the money wants it] —see also on-demand
popular demand
: a request made by or a desire shared by many people ▪ Because of popular demand, the restaurant has published a cookbook of favorite recipes. ▪ The show will continue for another week due to popular demand. ▪ The circus will be back by popular demand [=because many people want it to come back] later this summer.