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; -s ¹

Example Sentences

Given the points system used to determine starters in the Kentucky Derby, Intrepido almost certainly needs to finish first or second Saturday at Santa Anita.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Comedian Tom Walker, who portrays the fictional journalist Jonathan Pie, said the government needs to recognise comedy "as an important cultural thing from grassroots to sitcoms on the BBC".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Within each FDE pod, engineers occupied different roles: McCardel served as an “Echo,” the strategist responsible for translating the customer’s needs into technical requirements, while “Delta” engineers rapidly developed prototype software solutions.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026

But to reach its full potential, No Kings needs to explicitly name what is at stake in moral terms.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

It now needs but two things to be ready to hatch—the light of a full moon, and the words of a true friend.

From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville