needful

American  

[need-fuhl] / ˈnid fəl /

adjective

1. necessary or required.

   needful supplies.

2. needy.

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idioms

1. the needful,  money, especially immediately available cash.

   They haven't the needful for a car right now.

needful British  

/ ˈniːdfʊl /

adjective

1. necessary; needed; required

2. archaic  needy; poverty-stricken

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noun

1. informal  money or funds

   do you have the needful?

2. to perform a necessary task

Other Word Forms

• needfully adverb
• needfulness noun
• unneedful adjective
• unneedfully adverb

Etymology

Origin of needful

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; need, -ful

Example Sentences

Council, harms our most needful citizens and provides legislative solutions that are potentially dangerous for them and the community.

From Washington Post

His grief-stricken family has sought explanations as to how doctors could have found their loved one competent to “choose” death much less needful of it.

From Washington Post

Many will be young men and women who will risk prison, or worse, to deliver the facts to a needful public — even if some of the public don't want to hear it.

From Salon

I am grateful to the composers, lyricists, performers and musicians for bringing their wonderful, inspiring gift of music to a needful world.

From Washington Post

He is doing the needful to train the boy for recruitment into his Regiment.

From BBC