need 1 of 2

verb

Definition of neednext
1
as in to require
to have as a requirement a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it

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2
as in to must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

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need

2 of 2

noun

ˈnēd How to pronounce need (audio)
1
as in lack
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable got a job that barely provided for his basic needs

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3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement no need to apologize

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions donating money to help those in need

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of need
Verb
With that in mind, this makes sense as a way to optimize for the higher-margin business while benefiting from less expensive leases and smaller staff needed for a smaller store, Bonis said. — Tina Reed, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025 However, to watch the show in the US, Americans will need a VPN, a service that allows users to set their computer’s location to another country and access websites that would otherwise be restricted by location. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
The group argued in the statement that the stopgap bill would eliminate the need for an omnibus bill, a massive package filled with earmarks that lawmakers often turn to under time pressure to fund the government. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2025 All agree on the urgent need for action, but Democrats’ broader hostility to the anti-fraud efforts of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency has driven them to oppose even this commonsense legislation. — Matt Weidinger, National Review, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
  1. require
  2. lack
  3. must
  4. obligation
  5. poverty
  6. want
  7. requirement
  8. responsibility
Verb
  • Telefónica, one of Europe’s biggest telcos, has been instrumental in the digitalization and connectivity required for high-end productions.
    — Jamie Lang, Variety, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The restaurant requires a follow-up inspection but has since re-opened.
    — Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of require
Noun
  • There are also fears that the lack of restrictions of cuts to discretionary spending means the stopgap bill could allow the Trump administration to cut administrative expenses at the agencies responsible for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Zoom in: The lack of integration was most clearly seen during a blind taste test in 2023, when food service leaders from both companies tried pizza from Maverik and Kum & Go to determine which one should be used in stores moving forward.
    — Linh Ta, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of lack
Noun
  • The fish tacos at Tide Tables in Cortez are a must, and several spots in the Bradenton area beach communities like Hurricane Hanks, The Sandbar Restaurant, and Woody’s River Roo are also worth a visit.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The tableside guacamole—mashed to order and impossibly fresh—is a must, setting the stage for smoky, slow-roasted tacos and a cocktail list stacked with premium tequilas and mezcals.
    — Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of must
Noun
  • If an attorney believes someone at the company is engaged in legally problematic conduct, the attorney has an obligation to raise the issue all the way up the organization’s highest authority if necessary.
    — Chris Deubert, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The company highlights its ongoing need for additional capital to fund future exploration and development activities, as well as to meet its financial obligations under existing agreements.
    — Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • Education means an end to hunger and an end to poverty.
    — UNICEF USA, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Rapid industrialization and urbanization had created a host of issues, including poverty, domestic abuse, poor working conditions in factories and political corruption.
    — Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of poverty
Verb
  • Jukebox Broadway musicals need conflict and the evil suits at Capitol Records are a perennial villain for artists who just want to be themselves.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Now, an expert in military manpower at RAND wants to see the services shift their focus from quantity to quality.
    — Cory Smith, Baltimore Sun, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of want
Noun
  • Visiting production centers in person is a crucial part of ensuring his clients goods will meet the USMCA requirements, which also include paying workers $16 an hour on the books and abiding by a slew of intellectual property rules.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Regulatory compliance is also managed through specialized software that tracks changing requirements and automates reporting processes.
    — Serge Beck, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • Soundview has taken responsibility for the ongoing remediation, and the state continues to closely monitor that work.
    — Staff report, Hartford Courant, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Ben Stevens, brought to Palace in 2015 by Alan Pardew as head of performance analysis, became the assistant sporting director in July 2024 but is unlikely to take on Freedman’s role by himself, even if does adopt more responsibility.
    — Matt Woosnam, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of responsibility

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“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of need for Spanish Speakers

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