I. de ‧ mand 1 S2 W1 /dɪˈmɑːnd $ dɪˈmænd/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ demand , demands; verb : ↑ demand ; adjective : ↑ demanding ≠ UNDEMANDING ]
1 . [singular, uncountable] the need or desire that people have for particular goods and services:
Production is increasing faster than demand.
demand for
the demand for new housing
in demand (=wanted)
As a speaker he was always in demand.
⇨ ↑ supply and demand
2 . [countable] a very firm request for something that you believe you have the right to get:
demonstrations in support of the nationalists’ demands
demand for
their demand for higher salaries
demand that
demands that he should resign
3 . demands [plural] the difficult, annoying, or tiring things that you need to do, or a skill you need to have
demands of
the demands of modern life
demands on
The curriculum makes great demands on the teacher.
There are heavy demands on people’s time these days.
place/put demands on/upon somebody/something
the increased demands placed on police officers
4 . popular demand when a lot of people have asked for something to be done, performed etc
by/due to popular demand (=because of popular demand)
The exhibition will run for an extra week, due to popular demand.
5 . on demand formal whenever someone asks:
Should you feed your baby on demand, or stick to a timetable?
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + demand
▪ high (=a lot of people want something)
Demand for housing is higher than ever.
▪ low (=not many people want something)
Recently the demand for new cars has been relatively low.
▪ a big demand
There’s always a big demand for photographs of celebrities.
▪ a great/huge demand (=very big)
There is a huge demand for business software and services.
▪ increased/increasing/growing demand
One of the problems is the growing demand for housing.
▪ falling demand (=decreasing)
the falling demand for coal
▪ consumer demand (=the desire of consumers to buy goods)
Consumer demand for new technology is strong.
■ verbs
▪ meet/satisfy demand (=supply as much as people need or want)
There are reports that the company cannot produce enough to meet demand.
▪ keep up with demand ( also keep pace with demand ) (=satisfy the demand)
Public funding for higher education has not kept up with demand.
▪ cope with demand (=satisfy demand)
The existing services were not capable of coping with the demand for advice.
▪ increase/boost demand
A very hard winter boosted the demand for natural gas.
▪ reduce demand
Higher interest rates reduces the demand for credit.
▪ demand rises/increases
Demand for energy has continued to rise.
▪ demand falls (=becomes lower)
Demand for the products has fallen in the last six months.
■ phrases
▪ be much in demand ( also be in great demand ) (=be wanted by a lot of people)
Fuel-efficient cars are now much in demand.
▪ supply outstrips/exceeds demand (=more is available than people need or want)
In the 1980s, the supply of grain far exceeded the demand.
▪ a lack of demand
Many factories closed through lack of demand.
▪ a surge in demand (=a sudden increase)
There’s often a surge in demand for the Internet at the weekend.
II. demand 2 W2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ demand , demands; verb : ↑ demand ; adjective : ↑ demanding ≠ UNDEMANDING ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: demander , from Latin mandare 'to order' ]
1 . to ask for something very firmly, especially because you think you have a right to do this:
Angry demonstrators demanded the resignation of two senior officials.
demand to know/see/have etc something
I demand to know what’s going on.
demand that
They demanded that the military government free all political prisoners.
demand something of somebody
It seemed that no matter what she did, more was demanded of her.
‘Where are you going?’ she demanded angrily.
► Do not say ‘demand for something’. Say demand something : I demand my money back! (NOT I demand for my money back!)
2 . if one thing demands another, it needs that thing in order to happen or be done successfully:
Too many things demanded his attention at the same time.
It’s a desperate situation demanding a desperate remedy.