oxygen demand

noun

: biochemical oxygen demand

Examples of oxygen demand in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the organs that has the highest oxygen demand in the human body is a child’s developing brain. — Tom Csanidi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025 Hers was below normal, a sign the heart is not pumping efficiently enough to keep up with the body's oxygen demands. — Allison Aubrey, NPR, 2 Feb. 2026 One theory was that fish gills were unable to keep up with the fish's oxygen demands in warmer water, which holds less oxygen than colder water. — Devika Rao, theweek, 24 May 2024 The system reduces chemical oxygen demand by 90 percent. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025 Ever since, the foundation has been keeping track of the water—bacteria levels, oxygen demand—and has seen the river’s health decline with India’s growth. — Oliver Franklin-Wallis, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2023 Obviously, a body's oxygen demand increases with activity, so specific training is necessary to lengthen that skill. — Skyler Caruso, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 Advance measures its ammonia and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to ensure levels of water output by the treatment plant are far lower than government standards. — Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026 The environmental impact of carbohydrate deicers is low in regard to soil, air, and vegetation; however, an increase in carbohydrates in water bodies could increase oxygen demand in aquatic ecosystems. — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oxygen demand was in 1950

Rhymes for oxygen demand

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Browse Nearby Words

oxygen debt
oxygen demand
oxygenerator
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Cite this Entry

“Oxygen demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxygen%20demand. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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