demand
dih-MAHND
Demand (noun) means In economics, people's desire and ability to buy a particular good or service at a given price. Example: “A sudden heatwave pushed demand for fans and ice cream far above normal.”
noun
1
In economics, people's desire and ability to buy a particular good or service at a given price.
"A sudden heatwave pushed demand for fans and ice cream far above normal."
"Demand for the new phone outstripped supply within days."
"Prices rise when demand exceeds what suppliers can provide."
2
A firm or urgent request for something, often backed by authority.
"The protesters presented a list of demands to the council."
"The headteacher agreed to the parents' demand for a meeting."
"The union made a demand for better working conditions."
verb
1
To ask for something forcefully or as if it were owed.
"The referee demanded that both captains stop arguing at once."
"She demanded an explanation for the delay."
"Customers demanded a refund after the flight was cancelled."
How to use demand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an economic term for how much people want to buy, or simply asking for something firmly, like it's owed to you.
Common pairings
supply and demand
demand a refund
high demand
on demand
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Word forms
- Plural
- demands
- Third person singular
- demands
- Past tense
- demanded
- Archaic forms
- demandest, demandedst, demandeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A sudden heatwave pushed _____ for fans and ice cream far above normal.
Etymology
From Old French demander, from Latin demandare ("to entrust, hand over"), from de- plus mandare ("to order, commission").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for demand
See all rhymes for demand →Frequently asked questions
What does “demand” mean?
The word “demand” means in economics, people's desire and ability to buy a particular good or service at a given price. In plain terms, either an economic term for how much people want to buy, or simply asking for something firmly, like it's owed to you.
How do you pronounce “demand”?
“Demand” is pronounced dih-MAHND (/dɪˈmænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “demand” in a sentence?
Here is “demand” used in a sentence: “Demand for the new phone outstripped supply within days.”
What is another word for “demand”?
Words with a similar meaning to “demand” include call for, insist and stipulate.
What part of speech is “demand”?
Depending on how it is used, “demand” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “demand” come from?
The word “demand” comes from Latin. From Old French demander, from Latin demandare ("to entrust, hand over"), from de- plus mandare ("to order, commission").
Is “demand” a common word?
“Demand” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “demand” have?
“Demand” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in economics, people's desire and ability to buy a particular good or service at a given price.
What is the difference between demand and supply?
Demand is how much of a good or service buyers are willing and able to purchase at a given price. Supply is how much sellers are willing to offer at that price. The two interact in a market: where demand and supply balance, they set the price and quantity actually traded.
What is the law of demand?
The law of demand states that, all else being equal, people buy less of something as its price rises and more as its price falls. This inverse relationship is why demand curves slope downward. It reflects buyers seeking value and switching to cheaper alternatives when prices climb too high.
What factors affect demand?
Beyond price, demand shifts with buyers' income, their tastes and preferences, the price of substitutes and complements, expectations about the future, and the number of buyers in the market. A change in any of these can raise or lower demand even when the item's own price stays the same.
What is an example of demand?
If a coffee shop lowers its price and sells far more cups, that extra buying reflects higher demand at the lower price. Likewise, a popular new phone with long queues shows strong demand. In both cases it combines a genuine desire to buy with the ability to pay for it.
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