need

¹need

noun \ˈnēd\

Definition of NEED

1

: necessary duty : obligation

2

a : a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful b : a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism

3

: a condition requiring supply or relief

4

: lack of the means of subsistence : poverty

Examples of NEED

1. You can always call me at home if the need arises.
2. These new methods reduce the need to use harmful chemicals on crops.
3. We find that there is still a need for further discussion.
4. There is a great need for change.
5. Our experienced staff will go out of their way to meet your every need.
6. He has trouble expressing his emotional needs.
7. I felt a need to take control of the situation.
8. a need to be loved
9. She has an overwhelming need to be liked and respected.
10. I don't feel the need to defend my decision.

Origin of NEED

Middle English ned, from Old English nīed, nēd; akin to Old High German nōt distress, need, Old Prussian nautin need

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to NEED

Synonyms: absence, lack, needfulness, want

Antonyms: nonessential, nonnecessity

Related Words: deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency; dearth, meagerness, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, skimpiness; defect, minus; deprivation, famishment, privation; demand, essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

Near Antonyms: adequacy, enough, sufficiency; fund, pool, stock, supply; excess, fill, overabundance, oversupply, plenty, surfeit, surplus; hoard, stockpile

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with NEED

bead, Bede, bleed, brede, breed, cede, creed, deed, feed, Gide, gleed, greed, heed, keyed, knead, kneed, lead, mead, Mead, Mede, meed, plead, read, rede, reed, screed, seed, Snead, speed, steed, swede, treed, tweed, weed