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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.

See Examples For:

“We need to take a big step back and reassess how we’re looking at our social scene here on campus,” said Chaudhuri, the student assembly president.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

At the same time, he knows the Chargers can’t just preach it — they need to prove it on the field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Hill also cited the need for improvement in sportswear and the Jordan brand.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Whether there is a physical change - or any need for one - is debatable, but fans of the massages claim they help "flatten" and "debloat" and give a "snatched waist" and "sculpted abs".

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

I don’t need to tell Grandma what can happen when someone in the family tries to tamper with their gift without a guide.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Still, Dallas president Lorie Logan warned: "I currently estimate the target range needs to rise an additional 50 basis points or more to appropriately balance the outlook and risks for our dual mandate goals."

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

"Having a fleet that meets our needs at both national and European levels... is essential," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Mr. Burnham thinks he needs to reassure investors he can find the spare cash to fund a new entitlement.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

"Unless someone has a diagnosed lymphatic condition, I don't think anyone needs routine lymphatic drainage treatments, despite the growing popularity of these practices on social media."

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

“And right now, Max needs some connection to home.”

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Supporters collected more than 1 million petition signatures in support of the measure, surpassing the 874,641 needed to qualify.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Hill told analysts the company has made progress since his return, but that deeper changes were needed following a comprehensive review.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

The shutdown had to happen because the buildings had become leaky and rusty and needed a complete overhaul.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Pope Leo offers a needed model: Faith can be traditional without being closed, public without being coercive, and principled without being hostile.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

She told us that Marlene needed her to be there with her as much as possible, that she had been off her food and depressed ever since her mother had died.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Each chef seemed to have a recognizable point of view — something you could understand from the plate itself, without needing the chef to stand beside the table explaining it.

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

Labor costs are lower, with self-service buffets needing fewer servers than a traditional restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

Kaz Jahanbini, 19, says needing to ask to be paid back in the first place can be frustrating.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Two things can be true at once: Your mother can be anxious about needing more care, and have spent $100,000 of her savings on her son’s down payment.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

Giraffes hadn’t arisen from straining antelopes needing skeletal neck-braces.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee




Vocabulary lists containing need


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