need

American  

[need] / nid /

noun

1. a requirement, necessary duty, or obligation.

   There is no need for you to go there.

2. a lack of something wanted or deemed necessary.

   to fulfill the needs of the assignment.

3. urgent want, as of something requisite.

   He has no need of your charity.

   Synonyms:

   requirement

4. necessity arising from the circumstances of a situation or case.

   There is no need to worry.

5. a situation or time of difficulty; exigency.

   to help a friend in need;

   to be a friend in need.

   Synonyms:

   emergency

6. a condition marked by the lack of something requisite.

   the need for leadership.

7. destitution; extreme poverty.

   The family's need is acute.

   Synonyms:

   privation, penury, indigence, neediness

   Antonyms:

   wealth

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verb (used with object)

1. to have need of; require.

   to need money.

   Synonyms:

   lack, want

verb (used without object)

1. to be under an obligation (used as an auxiliary, typically in an interrogative or in a negative statement, and followed by infinitive, in certain cases without to; in the 3d person singular the form is need, notneeds ).

   He need not go.

2. to be in need or want.

3. to be necessary.

   There needs no apology.

idioms

1. if need be, should the necessity arise.

   If need be, I can type the letters myself.

need British  

/ niːd /

verb

1. (tr) to be in want of

   to need money

2. (tr) to require or be required of necessity (to be or do something); be obliged

   to need to do more work

3. (takes an infinitive without to) used as an auxiliary in negative and interrogative sentences to express necessity or obligation, and does not add -s when used with he, she, it, and singular nouns

   need he go?

4. archaic (intr) to be essential or necessary to

   there needs no reason for this

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noun

1. the fact or an instance of feeling the lack of something

   he has need of a new coat

2. a requirement

   the need for vengeance

3. necessity or obligation resulting from some situation

   no need to be frightened

4. distress or extremity

   a friend in need

5. extreme poverty or destitution; penury

need More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing need

• cry for (crying need for).

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Usage

What are other ways to say need? To need something is to have need of it. How does need compare to synonyms want, lack, and require? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

Related Words

Need, necessity imply a want, a lack, or a demand, which must be filled. Need, a word of Old English origin, has connotations that make it strong in emotional appeal: the need to be appreciated. Necessity, a word of Latin origin, is more formal and impersonal or objective; though much stronger than need in expressing urgency or imperative demand, it is less effective in appealing to the emotions: Water is a necessity for living things.

Other Word Forms

• needer noun
• unneeded adjective
• well-needed adjective

Etymology

Origin of need

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun nede, Old English nēd ( West Saxon nīed ), cognate with German Not, Old Norse nauth, Gothic nauths

Explanation

A need is something essential: people need food, water, and shelter. When you lack them, you're in need. Besides physical needs like sleep, people have lots of psychological needs: like for love and friendship. To pass an exam, you need to study. To lose weight, you need to exercise more and eat less. Drug addicts feel a physical need for their drug — so do smokers. Often, we feel we need things that we actually just want: like a new video game or car. When someone is trying hard to get something, they might say "I need it!"

Example Sentences

Those in the reorganization camp will need policymaker support, with guardrails to protect workers, while those jobs that grow with AI need policies that help expand access to those jobs.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

To judge your position by the stars, you need to know where they are in relation to the horizon at a particular time of year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Even before they were approached by BBC Scotland News, many could be heard talking about the need for escalators.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

You don’t need fireworks or an angelic choir singing at first glance.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

“I’m sorry. I need to use a restroom. Can you point me in that direction?”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• commitment
• demand
• obligation
• right
• urgency
• use
• wish