demo

1 of 6

noun (1)

plural demos
1
2
a
: an example of a product that is not yet ready to be sold
a demo version of the software
b
: a recording intended to show off a song or performer to a record producer

demo

2 of 6

verb (1)

demoed also demo'd; demoing also demo'ing; demos

transitive verb

1
: to give a demonstration of (something, such as a product or procedure) : to show how (something) works, is prepared, or is done
The chef demoed everything. His first demo was peeling a carrot.Michael Ruhlman
One dealer didn't even have demonstration software; the only thing he could demo was the power light.Video Magazine
2
: to create a demo (see demo entry 1 sense 2b) recording of (a piece of music)
… spent three months rehearsing and demoing songs for their third album …David Fricke
3
: to use (something, such as a product) in order to test its quality or value : to try out (something)
The surest way to pick exactly the right ski for your needs is to first narrow your choices to a workable number … and then go out and demo three or four pairs to make your final selection.Bill Grout

demo

3 of 6

verb (2)

demoed also demo'd; demoing also demo'ing; demos

transitive verb

: demolish
Brick salvaged from a demoed fireplace and backyard path make up the new stoop and walkway.Natalie Rodriguez
My mom put little masks on me and my brother, gave us goggles and crowbars, and we demo'd the walls.Matt Damon

demo

4 of 6

noun (2)

plural demos

Demo

5 of 6

noun (3)

plural Demos

demo-

6 of 6

combining form

variants or before vowels dem-
: people : populace : population
demography
demonym

Examples of demo in a Sentence

Noun (1) She will be showing a demo of the company's new alarm system. a demo version of the software I saw a demo on how to use the computer program. The salesman gave us a demo of the vacuum cleaner, and it seemed to work very well. They sent the demo to several record companies. She cut a demo last week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The engine cover demo suggests Atlas may be gearing up for work in automobile factories. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 31 Oct. 2024 Denning sang the demo that day and played a languid guitar solo, emulating Vince Gill’s melodic style. Tom Roland, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
The team plans to demo the concept later this decade. Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2023 Last fall, Samsung Display and Intel demoed a PC concept that was essentially a 13-inch tablet that could slide out into a 17.3-inch one. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for demo 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'demo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening from demonstration or demonstrator

Verb (1)

verbal derivative of demo entry 1

Verb (2)

by shortening

Noun (2)

by shortening

Noun (3)

by shortening

Combining form

combining form from Greek dêmos "district, country, people, common people, political district in Attica," of uncertain origin

Note: Greek dêmos has traditionally been linked with Old Irish dám "guests, company, retinue," Old Welsh dauu, glossing Latin cliens (hence, presumably, "member of a retinue"), Modern Welsh daw, dawf "son-in-law." However, the semantic discrepancy between the two etyma is significant, and Celtic *dāmo-/*dāmā- has more recently been explained as going back to *dōmo-, a lengthened-grade adjectival derivative of Indo-European *dom-o-s, "house, household." The further traditional link with Indo-European *deh2- "cut, divide" (whence Greek daíomai, daíesthai "to divide"; cf. tide entry 1), assuming a noun *deh2-mos meaning originally "part, division," is still possible, though it would be deprived of any support beside Greek.

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

1969, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1994, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1980, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1793, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of demo was in 1793

Dictionary Entries Near demo

Cite this Entry

“Demo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demo. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

demo

noun
plural demos

More from Merriam-Webster on demo

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