demandverb [ T ]
uk/dɪˈmɑːnd/us/dɪˈmænd/demand verb [ T ] (REQUEST)
B1 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.
More examples
- We demand freedom from injustice/persecution .
- It was grossly unfair to demand such a high interest rate on the loan.
- I think I'm quite within my rights to demand a full refund.
- Carrying a gun, he walked up to the cashier and demanded money.
- She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Giving orders & commands
- all-points bulletin
- bade
- boss
- bossyboots
- chain of command
- charge
- crack the whip idiom
- defy
- enjoin
- expect
- forget
- harry
- lay down the law idiom
- mandate
- ordain
- order sb around
- overbearing
- prescribed
- steamroller
- stick
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demand verb [ T ] (NEED)
B2 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.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Lacking things
- bankrupt
- bankruptcy
- be hard up (for sth) idiom
- bereft
- catch
- cry out for sth
- hole
- lack
- lacking
- need
- need sth like you need a hole in the head idiom
- needful
- short
- shortage
- shy
- take
- the cupboard is bare idiom
- the UN
- unsatisfied
- vacuum
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demandnoun
uk/dɪˈmɑːnd/us/dɪˈmænd/demand noun (REQUEST)
B1 [ C ] 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.
More examples
- There's increasing demand for cars which are more economical on fuel.
- Low consumer demand has forced us to mark down a wide range of goods, sometimes by as much as 30%.
- You can see why they refused her demand for a pay rise, but I suppose it was perfectly reasonable for her to ask.
- The party leader resisted demands for his resignation.
- The unions intend to call a strike if management will not agree to their demands.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making appeals & requests
- a cry for help idiom
- appellate
- application
- ask for sb
- beseech
- besiege
- besought
- bum
- cri de coeur
- crowdsource
- freeloader
- gateway
- hit
- hit sb up
- I'll thank you to do sth idiom
- pester
- petition
- request
- scrounge
- sponge
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demand noun (NEED)
B2 [ C or U ] 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).
demands [ plural ]
the difficult things that you have to do:
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).
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Essential or necessary
- a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do idiom
- basically
- basis
- be a question of doing sth idiom
- business-critical
- dependence
- elemental
- if/when push comes to shove idiom
- imply
- incumbent
- indispensable
- inherent
- integral
- need
- needed
- needful
- occasion
- on a need-to-know basis idiom
- owe
- warrant
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Difficult things and people
Idiom(s)
on demand