noun

need

noun

A requirement for something essential or important.

"There's an urgent need for more affordable housing."

Poverty or lack of basic means of living.

"The charity supports families in need."

verb

To require something as essential.

"Plants need sunlight and water to grow."

"I need your help with this."

To be obliged to do something.

"You need to submit the form by Friday."

How to Use Need

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething you must have, or the act of requiring it.

Common pairings

in need need help basic needs meet a need

Word Forms

needed past tense, needs plural, need plural, needed plural, needs singular, need singular, needed singular, needest singular, neededst singular, needeth singular

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Can you complete this real example?

There's an urgent _____ for more affordable housing.

Etymology

From Old English nēod and nīed, two related words meaning "desire/longing" and "necessity/compulsion," which merged into modern English "need."

Synonyms

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be in need of require

Related Words

require

Rhymes for need

feed seed reed deed heed weed peed bleed breed speed creed greed

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