need

noun

\ ˈnēd

Definition of need

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : necessary duty : obligation no need to apologize the need to pay taxes— Peter Scott

2a : a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful a building adequate for the company's needs

b : a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism health and education needs

3 : a condition requiring supply or relief The house is in need of repair. refugees in need of shelter and food

4 : lack of the means of subsistence (see subsistence sense 2) : poverty The community program provides for those in need.

need

verb

needed; needing; needs or (auxiliary) need

Definition of need (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to be needful or necessary

2 : to be in want

transitive verb

: to be in need of : require

auxiliary verb

: be under necessity or obligation to you need not answer she need only wait

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about need

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Synonyms & Antonyms for need

Synonyms: Noun

absence, lack, needfulness, want

Synonyms: Verb

bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, require, take, want, warrant

Antonyms: Verb

have, hold

Examples of need in a Sentence

Noun

You can always call me at home if the need arises. These new methods reduce the need to use harmful chemicals on crops. We find that there is still a need for further discussion. There is a great need for change. Our experienced staff will go out of their way to meet your every need. He has trouble expressing his emotional needs. I felt a need to take control of the situation. a need to be loved She has an overwhelming need to be liked and respected. I don't feel the need to defend my decision.

Verb

I need some advice. What do you think of this dress? I just need a couple of minutes to get ready. Most babies need at least 12 hours of sleep a day. We badly need a vacation. Further research is urgently needed if we are to find a cure. Another delay is the last thing I need! Men? Who needs them?! I certainly don't.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

In September, Business Insider reported on the conditions Flex contractors face, including physically demanding work, lack of overtime wages, and, yes, feeling the need to urinate in bottles to make their deliveries on time. — Gaby Del Valle, Vox, "Amazon is cutting costs with its own delivery service — but its drivers don’t receive benefits," 26 Dec. 2018 After hearing their own schedule and assessing your project's needs, work together to set out approximate start and end dates. — Brett Martin, House Beautiful, "Here Are The 8 Interview Questions To Ask A Potential Contractor," 26 Dec. 2018 After these latest comments and with an imminent Soyuz spacecraft launch on October 11 that will carry NASA astronaut Nick Hague to the International Space Station, the US space agency felt the need to put out a new statement on Wednesday. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "After more speculation about cause of ISS leak, NASA issues another statement," 3 Oct. 2018 But the cartel’s peculiar needs, such as creating shell companies, laundering money and investing millions in bribes and military-grade weapons, added a high degree of complexity. — Sam Walker, WSJ, "Help! My Boss Is El Chapo," 12 Jan. 2019 Large companies like Tencent that have suffered losses likely need to rely on back-up plans. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "China lifts video game ban but not for its biggest player," 29 Dec. 2018 At Degree, scientists work to calibrate the formula of different products to meet specific needs, such as smelling fresh or protecting against yellow underarm stains. — Cassie Shortsleeve, Popular Mechanics, "How Scientists at Degree Men Test Antiperspirant," 20 Dec. 2018 Ideas to help the poor, like the EITC, need to take a back seat to deficit concerns. — Matthew Yglesias, Vox, "Paul Ryan’s farewell address contained a blaze of nonsense about poverty," 20 Dec. 2018 Here, the need-to-know news from mountains in Switzerland, France, and Italy. — Andrew Sessa, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Biggest Ski News in Europe This Season," 6 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And in case the similarities needed to be any further solidified, Lili provided a spot-on imitation in the next pic. — De Elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Lili Reinhart Showed Off Curly Hair on Instagram," 30 Dec. 2018 Big Little Lies literally needed the culmination of female friendship to bring the series to its stunning conclusion. — Anne T. Donahue, Marie Claire, "Why Don't Women on Drama Shows Have Any Friends?," 27 Dec. 2018 Furthermore, the MLB’s streaming deals with the bulk of regional sports networks expired after this season and needs to be renegotiated, which could also complicate potential streaming opportunities for Amazon. — Anupreeta Das, WSJ, "Yankees in Talks With Amazon, Sinclair to Bid for YES Sports Network," 28 Dec. 2018 But while civil rights groups welcomed the new legislation, police departments and unions have been far less receptive, arguing that the measure will expose information that needs to remain private. — P.r. Lockhart, Vox, "A California city plans to shred years of police records before a new law makes them public," 27 Dec. 2018 Obviously, that won’t apply to today’s or even tomorrow's uses cases, but with Optane storage continuing to move down the train tracks, the day is approaching when even a consumer CPU may need to talk to what seems like an insane amount of memory. — Gordon Mah Ung, PCWorld, "Surprise! Intel reveals 10nm Sunny Cove CPU cores that go deeper, wider, and faster," 12 Dec. 2018 The 20-minute treatment can be used on the neck or any other body area that needs a little lift. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "17 Over-the-Top Beauty Treatments to Try Before Your Wedding Day," 13 Dec. 2018 There were cartons of ornaments that needed to be severely curated down to a handful of keepers. — Al Kemp, The Seattle Times, "How I came to grips with a downsized Christmas," 12 Dec. 2018 Among the modifications that would need to be made would be reinforcing the deck to withstand the heat from jet fighter engines. — Alastair Gale, WSJ, "Japan Unveils Plan for First Aircraft Carrier Since World War II," 11 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'need.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.