1.v. de·mand·ed , de·mand·ing , de·mands
v.tr. 1. To ask for urgently or peremptorily: demand an investigation into the murder; demanding that he leave immediately; demanded to speak to the manager.
2. To claim as just or due: demand repayment of a loan.
3. To ask to be informed of: demanded an explanation for the interruption.
4. To require as useful, just, proper, or necessary; call for: a gem that demands a fine setting.
5.
Law a. To lay legal claim to; claim formally.
b. To ask that (something) be done in accordance with a legal requirement.
v.intr. To make a demand.
n. 1. An act of demanding; an urgent request.
2. Something demanded: on strike until they get their demands.
3. An urgent requirement or need: the heavy demands of her job; the emotional demands of his marriage; an increased oxygen demand.
4. The state of being sought after: in great demand as a speaker.
5. Economics The desire for goods or services in an economy, measured as the amount people are ready to buy at a given price: Supply should rise to meet demand.
6.
Law a. A formal claim.
b. A request that some act be done or payment made in accordance with a legal requirement.
7. Archaic An emphatic question or inquiry.
Idiom: on demand 1. When presented for payment: a note payable on demand.
2. When needed or asked for: fed the baby on demand.
[Middle English demanden , from Old French demander , to charge with doing, and from Medieval Latin dēmandāre , to demand, both from Latin, to entrust : dē- , de- + mandāre , to entrust; see man- in Indo-European roots .]
de·mand′a·ble adj.
de·mand′er n.