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

The power to change the Kennedy Center marquee resides with Congress, which has authority to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States.”

From The Wall Street Journal

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