demand 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈmand How to pronounce demand (audio)
Definition of demandnext
1
as in request
something that someone insists upon having agreed to the customer's demand for a refund

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in market
the state of being sought after especially for purchase a steadily declining demand for film cameras

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in requirement
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable we are very confident that our new employee is fully equal to the demands of the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

demand

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to request
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority the losing party demanded a recount of the votes cast in the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to need
to have as a requirement a task that demands one's unremitting attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to ask
to set or receive as a price superstars of the big screen who demand millions for appearing in a movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb demand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of demand are claim, exact, and require. While all these words mean "to ask or call for something as due or as necessary," demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

When can claim be used instead of demand?

While in some cases nearly identical to demand, claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

When could exact be used to replace demand?

The words exact and demand can be used in similar contexts, but exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

When is require a more appropriate choice than demand?

In some situations, the words require and demand are roughly equivalent. However, require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demand
Noun
Apple wasn’t expecting such demand and, as a result, didn’t have the supply to match it. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026 Both companies have had robust demand for their services. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
Verb
The stakes demand transparency as every clinical recommendation must be traceable to its underlying sources. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 May 2026 Second, hold the insurance industry accountable by rigorously enforcing state law and demanding transparency. —Ben Allen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for demand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demand
  1. request
  2. market
  3. requirement
  4. require
  5. need
  6. ask
  7. must
  8. command
Noun
  • In February, opponents packed the City Hall chambers ahead of a planned Historic Preservation Board meeting, which was ultimately deferred at the Fontainebleau’s request after one of the board members didn’t show up.
    — Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Virginia’s Democratic attorney general, Jay Jones, urged the state Supreme Court to pause the lower court’s order and allow certification of the election to resume, a request the commonwealth’s high court denied on Tuesday.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • The carrier failed to secure a financial lifeline to continue operating, ending the discount air travel pioneer’s time in the sky, costing some 17,000 jobs and thousands of cheap flights in the market.
    — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 May 2026
  • There are cooktop-specific cleaners on the market which can help with keeping the cooktop in good condition.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
Definition of market
Noun
  • Nevertheless, the lawsuit said Bayfront Park Management Trust lacked a proper accounting system and didn’t have requirements for expenses to be supported by a contract or invoice policy, nor a policy or procedure to ensure vendors were selected through a competitive bidding process.
    — Tess Riski May 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
  • The state also does not have a minimum age requirement to possess a firearm, a law that gun control advocates have criticized for allowing minors to carry guns.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Definition of requirement
Verb
  • And on Monday, the ship operator said two crew members — one British, one Dutch — had acute respiratory symptoms, one mild and one severe but both requiring urgent medical care.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
  • Both hires require formal approval from their respective school boards, which are expected to vote in May.
    — Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Definition of require
Verb
  • The United States, searching for self-definition but loath to lose its illusions—its innocence—needed all of this as a counterpoint.
    — Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • The Moon moves through your 4th House of Home, bringing focus to your environment or emotional base and what needs support.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Definition of need
Verb
  • The congresswoman asked lawmakers to assess the situation and develop a repatriation plan by the end of the day on May 7.
    — Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • The debate was sponsored by The Denver Post, Denver7 and Colorado Public Radio, and the first question asked Bennet and Weiser to identify a policy position that separated them.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 May 2026
Definition of ask
Noun
  • What do to nearby A visit to Saint-Tropez is an absolute must.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
  • The perforated design adds breathability (a must in peak summer heat) and gives a little texture to an otherwise classic black pair.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2026
Definition of must
Verb
  • The agreement included a unique clause, never before reported, that would have reduced the total payment if the NWSL’s 18th club did not command an expansion fee of at least $200 million, according to five people familiar with the agreement.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Ad-pricing improvements and sharper targeting continue to drive roughly 30% year over year top-line growth — a number that commands respect at this scale.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of command

Browse Nearby Words

demagogues
demand
demanded
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Cite this Entry

“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demand. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demand

Nglish: Translation of demand for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about demand

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