Showing results for "needs"

• plural of need.
• present tense form of need (3rd person singular).

needs

American  

[needz] / nidz /

adverb

1. of necessity; necessarily (usually preceded or followed bymust ).

   It must needs be so.

   It needs must be.

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needs British  

/ niːdz /

adverb

1. (preceded or foll by must) of necessity

   we must needs go

   we will go, if needs must

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plural noun

1. what is required; necessities

   the needs of the third world

   his needs are modest

Etymology

Origin of needs

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

needs

Their record - one win in the past 16 meetings with England - needs to improve if they want to become a regular top-four side.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

"Pakistan needs to get its domestic act together to make itself economically strong and attractive for foreign investments," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

Germany’s Vacuumschmelze, which makes rare-earth permanent magnets and is currently owned by a U.S. private equity company, said its planned acquisition by Colorado-based Energy Fuels will provide better access to the materials it needs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Boyden said the financial-services industry needs to do more to help retirement savers, including addressing debt management and the need for emergency savings.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026

If Joey wants good information, she needs to go out into the city, walk among the Japanese soldiers, and see things up close.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly