Cool MateDemand vs Requests
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Demand
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Requests
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Demand
| Demand | Requests | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈmɑːnd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈmænd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //rɪˈkwɛsts//🇺🇸 //rɪˈkwɛsts// |
| Meaning | To ask for something forcefully. | Asking for something politely. |
| Example | The demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years. | She made several requests for more information about the project. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | legitimate, realistic, reasonable, issue, make, present, on demand, demand for, demand from, considerable, enormous, excessive, impose, make, place, demand on, demand upon, big, buoyant, considerable, level, accommodate, cope with, fulfil/fulfill, grow, increase, rise, in demand, demand among, demand for, supply and demand | make requests, submit requests, respond to requests, urgent requests, formal requests |
| Antonyms | surrender, yield, give | offers, gives, propositions |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'require' — 'demand' is stronger than 'require'., Using 'demand' without an object — it needs something to demand., Mixing it up with 'request' — 'request' is more polite. | Confused with 'require' - 'require' indicates a necessity, not a polite ask., Using 'request' in plural unnecessarily - 'requests' is used generally, not typically countable., Omitting 'for' when mentioning what is asked - 'make requests for...' is correct. |
| Usage notes | Use 'demand' when you want something with urgency or authority. It's neutral but can be seen as aggressive in casual situations. Avoid using it when making polite requests. | Use 'requests' when asking for information or favors. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal requests may use phrases like 'I would like to request...'. Avoid using in very casual settings where a simple 'can you...' might suffice. |
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Frequently asked questions: Demand vs Requests
What's the difference between Demand and Requests?
Demand: To ask for something forcefully. Requests: Asking for something politely.
Which is more common: Demand and Requests?
Demand is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Demand: The demand for organic food has been steadily increasing over the past few years. Requests: She made several requests for more information about the project.
Can I use Demand and Requests interchangeably?
Not always. Demand and Requests are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.