demand
noun
uk/dɪˈmɑːnd/ us [ S or U ] COMMERCE, ECONOMICS
a need for goods or services that customers want to buy or use:
increasing/rising/growing demand
declining/falling/slowing demand
high/strong/huge demand
a decline/drop/shift in demand
Colourful Ceramics hope to tap into the demand for products made out of recycled materials.
a rise/increase/boom in demand
demand rises/grows/falls As populations age, demand rises for ever more complex and expensive health treatments.
demand exceeds/outstrips supply
to increase/decrease/satisfy demand
Safecare says it has thrived by meeting a demand for affordable insurance.
For the moment, strong customer demand is helping all four operators grow quickly.
Rising prices for land and the need for security create demand for gated high-rise units.
bolster/boost/fuel demand The dollar rose as buying of U.S. securities bolstered demand for the currency.
[ U ] ECONOMICS
the fact of customers buying goods and using services in an economy, and the amount that they buy:
demand grows/recovers Pilkington said prices and demand were growing in Europe.
There are signs of a slowdown in domestic demand.
Grain prices are increasing, helped by both the strengthening U.S. economy and accelerating demand from China.
[ C ]
a strong request for something:
a demand for sth/a demand that There was a demand that customers be compensated for the inconvenience they had suffered.
accept/agree to/reject a demand
[ C ]
a letter requesting that someone pays money that they owe:
Defaulting customers received a final demand for payment.
demands
[ plural ]
the things that a particular situation or person makes necessary:
demands on sb/sth Most managers feel there are too many demands on their time.
changing/competing/conflicting demands Staff are forced to face the conflicting demands of workplace and home.
meet/respond to/satisfy the demands of sth Farmers need to modernize their tobacco production to meet the demands of a competitive market.
in demand
used for describing goods or services that customers would buy or use if they were available:
Banking shares were also in demand, amid continued hopes of consolidation in the sector.
The company must develop the right products - those that are in demand by their prospective clientele.
on demand
as soon as a request is made:
The bank stated that there was little point in adding to small firms' worries by making overdrafts payable on demand.
whenever you need or want it:
Television, movies, music, and computer games are now available on demand in homes over high-speed data links.
The network is available on various cable operators' on-demand services.
the law of demand
ECONOMICS
an economic law that states that people buy less of a product when the price is high, and more when the price is low:
This is the normal law of demand, in which the quantity of corn demanded increases as the price of corn declines.
See also
aggregate demand
composite demand
consumer demand
cyclical demand
derived demand
elastic demand
elasticity
excess demand
inelastic demand
institutional demand
market demand
primary demand
selective demand
demand
verb [ T ]
uk/dɪˈmɑːnd/ usto make a strong request for something:
Miller was expected to go back to the bidders last night to demand a further rise in price.
If the Revenue thinks you have underpaid it will demand payment and can charge a penalty of interest.
Shareholders in the company are demanding the resignation of the chief executive.