on-demand
on-demand — adjective
1. ready to be supplied the moment a person asks for it, rather than only at fixed
ready to be supplied the moment a person asks for it, rather than only at fixed times or in advance.
The new printer offers on-demand colour copies for anyone who walks into the library.
on-demand + noun (attributive use)
Élise runs an on-demand cake shop where customers choose the size and flavour by phone.
on-demand + business noun
The hotel provides on-demand laundry, so guests get clean shirts within two hours.
Pim prefers on-demand grocery delivery because she shops late at night after long shifts.
- scheduled
fixed in advance, not triggered by a request
文法句型
on-demand + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun (attributive); you cannot say 'the service is on-demand'. Distinguish from sense 3, which is restricted to films and TV.
常見錯誤
2. describing companies, apps, or whole industries built around supplying things or
describing companies, apps, or whole industries built around supplying things or work the moment a customer asks, often through a phone app.
Liam works in the on-demand economy, driving for two ride-share apps every weekend.
on-demand + economy/sector noun
Several on-demand startups now connect local plumbers with families needing urgent repairs.
on-demand + company noun
The on-demand workforce in Jakarta has grown sharply as more drivers switch from taxis.
Kian's brother launched an on-demand cleaning platform that matches workers to flats in under an hour.
- gig (economy)
narrower; specifically about short freelance jobs
- platform-based
neutral business term for app-driven services
- traditional
describing older, fixed-roster industries
文法句型
on-demand + industry/economy noun
用法筆記
Subject is usually a business, sector, platform, or workforce — not a single product. Distinguish from sense 1, where on-demand modifies the product or service itself.
3. describing films, shows, or video that a viewer can start at any moment, instead
describing films, shows, or video that a viewer can start at any moment, instead of waiting for a scheduled broadcast time.
Mauricio caught up on the football match through the channel's on-demand replay later that night.
on-demand + replay/playback noun
The streaming app offers thousands of on-demand films, including many classic Korean dramas.
on-demand + films/shows (typical pattern)
Parents like the on-demand cartoons because the children can watch them at bath time.
Christopher missed the live concert but watched the on-demand recording the following weekend.
文法句型
on-demand + film/TV/video noun
用法筆記
Object is almost always a video, film, show, channel, or recording. Distinguish from sense 1: 'on-demand printing' is sense 1; 'on-demand films' is sense 3.
on-demand — noun
1. a paid or built-in television service that lets viewers pick films or shows from
a paid or built-in television service that lets viewers pick films or shows from a menu and start watching at any time.
Eitan signed up for on-demand last winter to watch foreign films during quiet evenings.
subject + sign up for + on-demand (as a service)
The hotel room had free on-demand, but the menu only listed action movies.
free on-demand (collocation for hotel package)
Kemi watches everything on on-demand now and rarely turns on regular television.
The cable company added Korean drama channels to its on-demand last month.
- VOD
abbreviation; common in technical writing about media
- streaming service
broader; includes free and live services too
- linear TV
traditional fixed-schedule broadcasting
文法句型
watch on-demand
available on on-demand
用法筆記
Uncountable noun used without 'a'. Often appears as 'on on-demand' (to describe where you watch) or 'have on-demand' (to describe the subscription).
常見錯誤
on-demand — idiom
1. in banking and contracts: as soon as the holder of a cheque, note, or loan forma
in banking and contracts: as soon as the holder of a cheque, note, or loan formally asks for the money, the payer must hand it over.
The promissory note Samir signed was payable on demand, so the lender could ask for repayment at any moment.
payable on demand (fixed legal collocation)
Funds in a regular savings account are usually available on demand without any waiting period.
available on demand (banking pattern)
The bond pays interest each year, but the principal is only due on demand after five years.
Rin's grandfather kept gold coins because they could be sold on demand for cash in any market.
- at call
British banking term; nearly interchangeable with 'on demand'
- upon request
more general; not limited to money
- term (loan)
repayable only at a fixed future date, not whenever asked
文法句型
payable on demand
due on demand
用法筆記
Used adverbially after a financial verb (payable, due, available, repayable, callable). Frequently appears in loan contracts and banking documents; in everyday speech, prefer 'whenever asked'.