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

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

²need

verb

need·edneed·ingneeds or (auxiliary) need

Definition of NEED

intransitive verb

1

: to be needful or necessary

2

: to be in want

transitive verb

: to be in need of : require

verbal auxiliary

: be under necessity or obligation to <you need not answer> <she need only wait>

Examples of NEED

1. I need some advice. What do you think of this dress?
2. I just need a couple of minutes to get ready.
3. Most babies need at least 12 hours of sleep a day.
4. We badly need a vacation.
5. Further research is urgently needed if we are to find a cure.
6. Another delay is the last thing I need!
7. Men? Who needs them?! I certainly don't.

First Known Use of NEED

before 12th century

Related to NEED

Synonyms

bear, challenge, claim, demand, necessitate, require, take, want, warrant, call for

Antonyms

have, hold

Related Words

entail, involve; ask, beg, claim, clamor (for), cry (for); hurt (for), lack; command, enjoin, exact, insist, press, quest, stipulate

Near Antonyms

own, possess