needs

[ needz ]

adverb

1. of necessity; necessarily (usually preceded or followed by must ):

   It must needs be so.

   It needs must be.

needs

/ niːdz /

adverb

1. preceded or foll by must of necessity

   we will go, if needs must

   we must needs go

plural noun

1. what is required; necessities

   his needs are modest

   the needs of the third world

Word History and Origins

Origin of needs¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English nedis, Old English nēdes, originally genitive of nēd need; -s ¹

Example Sentences

“The institution of marraige [sic] is under attack in our society and it needs to be strengthened,” Bush wrote.

From The Daily Beast

But the other thing that needs to be done is for us citizens to do.

From The Daily Beast

Ney said McDonnell needs to “keep a stiff lip” and stay in close contact with family members.

From The Daily Beast

Following the Apatow references, Marge informs Homer that she needs to use the “Porta Potty.”

From The Daily Beast

“If Charleston harbor needs improvement, let the commerce of Charleston bear the burden,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Urbanity ushers in water that needs no apology, and gives a zest to the worst vintage.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet if there is a measure of untruth in such pretty flatteries, one needs to be superhuman in order to condemn them harshly.

From Project Gutenberg

In one sense, then, the new issue has adequate expansibility for ordinary needs.

From Project Gutenberg

Even genius, however, needs direction and adjustment to secure the most perfect and reliable results.

From Project Gutenberg

The poverty of earlier days was the outcome of the insufficiency of human labor to meet the primal needs of human kind.

From Project Gutenberg