2 VERB If one thing demands another, the first needs the second in order to happen or be dealt with successfully. □ [V n] He said the task of reconstruction would demand much patience, hard work and sacrifice.
3 N‑COUNT A demand is a firm request for something. □ [+ for ] There have been demands for services from tenants up there.
4 N‑UNCOUNT If you refer to demand , or to the demand for something, you are referring to how many people want to have it, do it, or buy it. □ Another flight would be arranged on Saturday if sufficient demand arose. □ Demand for coal is down and so are prices.
5 N‑PLURAL The demands of something or its demands on you are the things which it needs or the things which you have to do for it. □ [+ of ] …the demands and challenges of a new job. [Also + on ]
6 PHRASE If someone or something is in demand or in great demand , they are very popular and a lot of people want them. □ He was much in demand as a lecturer in the U.S.
7 PHRASE If someone or something makes demands on you, they require you to do things which need a lot of time, energy, or money. □ I had no right to make demands on his time.
8 PHRASE If something is available or happens on demand , you can have it or it happens whenever you want it or ask for it. □ There was free tea and coffee on demand. SYNONYMS demand VERB 1
request: Mr Dennis said he had requested access to a telephone.
ask for: I decided to go to the next house and ask for food.
order: The President has ordered a full investigation.
insist on: She insisted on being present at all the interviews. USAGE demand
When demand
is a verb, don’t use ‘for’ after it. Don’t say, for example, ‘
demand + noun : answer, apology, explanation; compensation, money, payment, ransom; action NOUN 4
noun + demand : consumer
adjective + demand : growing, increasing, rising, strong; falling, reduced, slowing, weak; domestic, global
verb + demand : meet, satisfy; boost, increase, stimulate; create; reduce, weaken
de|mand|ing /d I mɑː nd I ŋ, -mæ nd-/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A demanding job or task requires a lot of your time, energy, or attention. □ He found he could no longer cope with his demanding job.
2 ADJ People who are demanding are not easily satisfied or pleased. □ Ricky was a very demanding child.
de|mar|cate /diː mɑː r ke I t, [AM ] d I mɑː rk-/ (demarcates , demarcating , demarcated ) VERB If you demarcate something, you establish its boundaries or limits. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] A special U.N. commission was formed to demarcate the border.
de|mar|ca|tion /diː mɑː r ke I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Demarcation is the establishment of boundaries or limits separating two areas, groups, or things. [FORMAL ] □ Talks were continuing about the demarcation of the border between the two countries.
de|mean /d I miː n/ (demeans , demeaning , demeaned )
1 VERB If you demean yourself , you do something which makes people have less respect for you. □ [V pron-refl] He plays a struggling immigrant who is forced to demean himself with a series of bread line jobs.
2 VERB To demean someone or something means to make people have less respect for them. □ [V n] Some groups say that pornography demeans women.
de|mean|ing /d I miː n I ŋ/ ADJ Something that is demeaning makes people have less respect for the person who is treated in that way, or who does that thing. □ …demeaning sexist comments. [Also + to ]
de|mean|our /d I miː nə r / in AM, use demeanor N‑UNCOUNT [usu poss N ] Your demeanour is the way you behave, which gives people an impression of your character and feelings. [FORMAL ] □ …her calm and cheerful demeanour.
de|ment|ed /d I me nt I d/
1 ADJ Someone who is demented has a severe mental illness, especially Alzheimer's disease. [MEDICAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 ADJ If you describe someone as demented , you think that their actions are strange, foolish, or uncontrolled. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ Sid broke into demented laughter.
de|men|tia /d I me nʃə/ (dementias ) N‑VAR Dementia is a serious illness of the mind. [MEDICAL ]
dem|erara sug|ar /de məreərə ʃʊ gə r / N‑UNCOUNT Demerara sugar is a type of brown sugar. It is made from sugar cane that is grown in the West Indies. [BRIT ]
de|merge /diː mɜː r dʒ/ (demerges , demerging , demerged ) VERB If a large company is demerged or demerges , it is broken down into several smaller companies. [BRIT , BUSINESS ] □ [V n] His ultimate aim is to demerge the group. □ [V ] Many companies merge and few demerge. [Also V n from n]
de|merg|er /diː mɜː r dʒə r / (demergers ) N‑COUNT A demerger is the separation of a large company into several smaller companies. [BRIT , BUSINESS ]