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Definitions

need

[need] / nid /






Usage

What are other ways to say need? The verb need often suggests urgency, stressing the necessity of supplying what is lacking: to need an operation, better food, a match to light the fire. Require, which expresses necessity as strongly as need, occurs most frequently in serious or formal contexts: Your presence at the hearing is required. Successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail. Lack means to be without or to have less than a desirable quantity of something: to lack courage, sufficient money, enough members to make a quorum. 

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.

Under the agreement signed by Gordon Peterson, WaterStone says, it doesn’t need to consider the son’s grant recommendations, provide accountings or allow him to move the account.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Researchers say the findings point to the need for new approaches to prevention.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

"We need to be strong for each other, we must respect family and cultural practice."

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

They felt the board wasn’t grasping the urgency of the company’s problems and the need to move fast to turn the business around.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

When we need to put our jackets on, we go home, back to pretending that we’re fine, just fine.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam




Vocabulary lists containing need