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Definition of demand noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

demand

noun
 
/dɪˈmɑːnd/
 
/dɪˈmænd/
Idioms
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  1. [countable] a very strong request for something; something that somebody needs
    • demand for something a demand for higher pay
    • demand that… demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed
    • A federal judge rejected their demands.
    • The management had no intention of meeting union demands.
    Extra Examples
    • A ransom demand has been made for the kidnapped racehorse.
    • Campaigners have stepped up their demands for immediate government action.
    • Demands have been made for the immediate distribution of food to the refugees.
    • I think your demand for a higher salary is perfectly reasonable.
    • My government cannot give in to the demands of an illegal organization.
    • The reporter refused their demand that he reveal his sources.
    • There have been new demands for the government to take action to reduce crime.
    • demands from the opposition for a recount of the votes
    • Every now and then there are demands that the law on gun ownership should be changed.
    • Our firm is constantly striving to satisfy customers' demands.
    • Their demand for higher pay was ignored.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • legitimate
    • realistic
    • reasonable
    verb + demand
    • issue
    • make
    • present
    preposition
    • on demand
    • demand for
    • demand from
    See full entry
  2. demands
    [plural] things that somebody/something makes you do, especially things that are difficult, make you tired, worried, etc.
    • Juggling the demands of work and family is never easy.
    • She shouldn't always give in to his demands.
    • demands on somebody As a director he makes huge demands on his actors.
    • Flying makes enormous demands on pilots.
    Extra Examples
    • the day-to-day demands of the job
    • We must prepare children to respond to the demands of work.
    • coping with the conflicting demands of work and family life
    • The emotional demands of the job can be overwhelming.
    • Teacher training has to evolve to meet the changing demands of the profession.
    • How do they cope with the conflicting demands of work and family life?
    • I think the demands of this job are excessive.
    • Juggling the daily demands of career and family is rewarding, but never easy.
    • Life is hard for nurses on children's wards, where the emotional demands can be overwhelming.
    • My elderly parents make a lot of demands on me.
    • My work seems to make more and more demands on my time.
    • The person who cannot say ‘no’ to others' requests is likely to be overwhelmed by external demands.
    • the need for scientific research freed from the immediate demands of industry
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • enormous
    • excessive
    verb + demands
    • impose
    • make
    • place
    preposition
    • demand on
    • demand upon
    See full entry
  3. [uncountable, singular] the desire or need of customers for goods or services that they want to buy or use
    • Demand is exceeding supply.
    • It is becoming more difficult for us to meet demand.
    • demand for something/somebody Consumer demand for organic foods continues to increase rapidly.
    • They are struggling to satisfy the demand for the product.
    • We are seeing an increased demand for housing in the area.
    • increasing/growing/rising demand
    • to stimulate/boost/increase demand
    see also print on demand, supply and demand
    Collocations The economyThe economyManaging the economy
    • handle/​run/​manage the economy
    • boost investment/​spending/​employment/​growth
    • stimulate demand/​the economy/​industry
    • cut/​reduce investment/​spending/​borrowing
    • reduce/​curb/​control/​keep down inflation
    • create/​fuel growth/​demand/​a boom/​a bubble
    • encourage/​foster/​promote/​stimulate/​stifle innovation/​competition
    • encourage/​work with/​compete with the private sector
    • increase/​boost/​promote US/​agricultural exports
    • ban/​restrict/​block cheap/​foreign imports
    • the economy grows/​expands/​shrinks/​contracts/​slows (down)/recovers/​improves/​is booming
    • enjoy an economic/​housing/​property boom
    Economic problems
    • push up/​drive up prices/​costs/​inflation
    • damage/​hurt/​destroy industry/​the economy
    • cause/​lead to/​go into/​avoid/​escape recession
    • experience/​suffer a recession/​downturn
    • fight/​combat inflation/​deflation/​unemployment
    • cause/​create inflation/​poverty/​unemployment
    • create/​burst a housing/​stock market bubble
    • cause/​trigger a stock market crash/​the collapse of the banking system
    • face/​be plunged into a financial/​an economic crisis
    • be caught in/​experience cycles of boom and bust
    Public finance
    • cut/​reduce/​slash/​increase/​double the defence/​education/​aid budget
    • increase/​boost/​slash/​cut public spending
    • increase/​put up/​raise/​cut/​lower/​reduce taxes
    • raise/​cut/​lower/​reduce interest rates
    • ease/​loosen/​tighten monetary policy
    • balance the (state/​federal) budget
    • achieve/​maintain a balanced budget
    • run a ($4 trillion) budget deficit/​surplus
    • impose taxes/​austerity measures
    Extra Examples
    • a high level of demand
    • As demand slows, the need to export will return.
    • Demand for laptops had risen sharply.
    • Demand for the product is buoyant.
    • In the housing market, demand is outstripping supply.
    • It can be difficult to forecast demand in the construction industry.
    • It is the job of the marketing manager to create demand for the new product.
    • Low interest rates are fuelling demand for credit.
    • Supply normally exceeds demand for the bulk of consumer goods.
    • The factories are staying open all weekend to try to meet the consumer demand for this product.
    • The slowdown in domestic demand was offset by an increase in exports.
    • There's always a great demand for our soups in winter.
    • We can estimate that total market demand for electrical goods will rise by 8%.
    • policies aimed at managing demand
    • the demand from consumers
    • the law of supply and demand
    • the potential demand among children
    • An ageing population is placing an increasing demand on health services.
    • The scheme aims to provide bed space for tourism in times of high demand.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • buoyant
    • considerable
    … of demand
    • level
    verb + demand
    • accommodate
    • cope with
    • fulfil/​fulfill
    demand + verb
    • grow
    • increase
    • rise
    preposition
    • in demand
    • demand among
    • demand for
    phrases
    • supply and demand
    See full entry
  4. Word OriginMiddle English (as a noun): from Old French demande (noun), demander (verb), from Latin demandare ‘hand over, entrust’ (in medieval Latin ‘demand’), from de- ‘formally’ + mandare ‘to order’.
Idioms
by popular demand
  1. because a lot of people have asked for something
    • By popular demand, the play will run for another week.
in demand
  1. wanted by a lot of people
    • Good secretaries are always in demand.
    Extra Examples
    • She is in constant demand to make public appearances and give interviews.
    • These old machines are still in demand.
on demand
  1. done or happening whenever somebody asks
    • Feed the baby on demand.
    • The service allows you to watch video on demand.
    • All of the conference sessions will be available on demand for 90 days.
    see also on-demand
See demand in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee demand in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
given
adjective
 
 
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