demanded

Demanded is the past tense and past participle of the verb demand. To demand is to ask for something forcefully or as a right, or to require as a condition. It conveys a sense of insistence, authority, or necessity beyond a simple request.

In ordinary use, demanded takes a direct object: for example, "They demanded payment" or "She demanded an explanation." It can express urgency or authority, and is often sharper in tone than more neutral verbs like ask or request. In legal, contractual, or formal writing, a demand may appear in notices or statements specifying what is required or due, with the passive form "payment is demanded" also common.

Etymology traces the verb demand to Old French demandoir or demander, derived from Latin demandare, meaning to entrust or designate, with the noun demand sharing the same roots. The sense of asserting a claim or right has long been central to the word in English.

Usage notes: demanded normally reflects stronger force or entitlement than a simple request. It can imply coercion or insistence, depending on context and tone. In some contexts, especially in journalism or diplomacy, it can appear as a measured or formal term, but it still carries weight beyond a mere inquiry.

See also: demand, demanding, demand letter, demand for payment. Synonyms and near-synonyms include require, insist, claim, and necessitate; antonyms include permit, allow, grant.