adj
necessary
NEHS-uh-sree
adj
1
Required or essential in order to achieve something or avoid a problem.
"Water is necessary for all forms of life."
"It may be necessary to reschedule the meeting."
noun
1
Informal: whatever is required to get something done (often "do the necessary").
"Leave it with me, I'll do the necessary."
How to Use Necessary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNeeded — something that has to happen or exist for something else to work.
Common pairings
necessary evil
absolutely necessary
necessary steps
Word Forms
necessarier comparative, more necessary comparative, necessaries plural, necessarys plural, Necessarys plural, necessariest superlative, most necessary superlative
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Water is _____ for all forms of life.
Etymology
From Old French necessaire, from Latin necessārius ("unavoidable, required"), related to cēdere ("to yield" or "withdraw") — the same root found in "cede."