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Synonyms

needs

American  
[needz] / nidz /

adverb

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

    It must needs be so.

    It needs must be.


needs British  
/ niːdz /

adverb

  1. (preceded or foll by must) of necessity

    we must needs go

    we will go, if needs must

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

plural noun

  1. what is required; necessities

    the needs of the third world

    his needs are modest

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of needs

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For any part of it to happen, the club first needs to stay out of its own way.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s supposed to use these profits to pay for imports and other economic needs.

From The Wall Street Journal

None of this means bubble tea needs to disappear from menus.

From Science Daily

I tried a new Samsung smartphone feature called Privacy Display—and I’m convinced that every device needs it.

From The Wall Street Journal

At a minimum, he said, the county needs to notify the public when workers are going to spray.

From Los Angeles Times