# demand

/dɪˈmænd/ (US) · /dɪmˈɑːnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/demand
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to ask forcefully

verb · CEFR B1

to ask for something in a very firm way because you believe you have a right to it.

For teachers: to request something forcefully or authoritatively, often implying that the speaker has the right to receive it.

- The angry customers began to demand a full refund for the broken flight.
- The protesters gathered outside the embassy to demand the immediate release of the political prisoners held without trial.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes a direct object or a 'that' clause.

### 2. to require

verb · CEFR B2

to need a lot of time, effort, or attention.

For teachers: to require or call for as necessary or urgent.

- This difficult project will demand all of your concentration this week.
- The intricate nature of the surgery demands absolute precision and years of specialised training from the medical team.

### 3. a forceful request

noun · CEFR B1

a very firm statement that someone must do something.

For teachers: an insistent and peremptory request, made as if by right.

- The strikers ignored the company's demand to return to work immediately.
- The kidnappers issued a formal demand for ransom, specifying a deadline that left the authorities little time to negotiate.

### 4. economic desire

noun · CEFR B2

the desire of people to buy a particular product or service.

For teachers: the desire of consumers, clients, or users for a particular commodity or service.

- There is a huge demand for electric cars as fuel prices continue to rise.
- Economists noted that while supply remained steady, the sudden surge in consumer demand drove prices to record highs.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'in demand' to describe something popular.

### 5. pressure or burden

noun · CEFR B2

the difficult things that you are required to do.

For teachers: the taxing or exhausting requirements of a task, job, or situation.

- The demands of her new job meant she had very little time for her family.
- The physical demands of professional athletics often lead to chronic injuries that persist long after a player has retired.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'demands'.

## Examples

- There is a high demand for organic vegetables lately.
- The workers issued a formal demand for better safety equipment and higher wages during the negotiations.
- Economists noted that while the supply of housing remained stagnant, the sudden surge in demand led to an unprecedented increase in market prices across the suburban sector.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.