nec·es·sary
ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē 
1
: absolutely needed : required
Food is necessary for life.
2
a
: of an inevitable nature : inescapable
Death is a necessary feature of the human condition.
b(1)
: logically unavoidable
a necessary conclusion
(2)
: that cannot be denied without contradiction
c
: determined or produced by the previous condition of things
the necessary outcome of the affair
d
: compulsory
Taking the oath of obedience is necessary.
Synonyms
Examples of necessary in a Sentence
Adjective
Some say that Hvorostovsky's Don Giovanni lacks the necessary menace; others find that he tosses his mane about too flamboyantly.
—
Francine Du Plessix Gray, New Yorker, 22 Sept. 2003
From the very outset the eminence of this new creature, the intellectual, … was inseparable from his necessary indignation.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's, June 2000
Our most cataclysmic moments are typically free of gravitas, of necessary thunder; a person dies, but instead of the sky darkening and lightning striking, the sun continues to shine and the birds to sing.
—Alain de Botton, Harper's, October 1998
Is it really necessary for me to have surgery?
The threat of a thunderstorm made it necessary to cancel the picnic.
It's not necessary to wear a tie.
Food is necessary for life.
We had all the necessary ingredients.
She took the medicine only when absolutely necessary.
Higher prices are a necessary consequence of the company's new services.
Noun
"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, " … My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of life than do an ungenerous thing."
—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
I took up the two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another secret pocket I had no mind should be searched, wherein I had some little necessaries that were of no consequence to any but myself.
—Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, 1726
a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life
Francine Du Plessix Gray, New Yorker, 22 Sept. 2003
From the very outset the eminence of this new creature, the intellectual, … was inseparable from his necessary indignation.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's, June 2000
Our most cataclysmic moments are typically free of gravitas, of necessary thunder; a person dies, but instead of the sky darkening and lightning striking, the sun continues to shine and the birds to sing.
—Alain de Botton, Harper's, October 1998
Is it really necessary for me to have surgery?
The threat of a thunderstorm made it necessary to cancel the picnic.
It's not necessary to wear a tie.
Food is necessary for life.
We had all the necessary ingredients.
She took the medicine only when absolutely necessary.
Higher prices are a necessary consequence of the company's new services.
Noun
"I thoroughly understand you," cried Mrs. Norris, " … My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of life than do an ungenerous thing."
—Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
I took up the two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another secret pocket I had no mind should be searched, wherein I had some little necessaries that were of no consequence to any but myself.
—Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, 1726
a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life
Recent Examples on the WebJason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The lane closure on I-71 north between the Norwood Lateral and the Red Bank Expressway was necessary for construction workers to have safe access to their work.
—The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for necessary 
Adjective
One of the constants of Taylor Swift’s storied career has been the chances she’s taken at the precise moment when taking a chance wasn’t necessary.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
The lane closure on I-71 north between the Norwood Lateral and the Red Bank Expressway was necessary for construction workers to have safe access to their work.
—The Enquirer, 19 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for necessary
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'necessary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necessary. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
necessary
1 of 2 adjective
nec·es·sary
ˈnes-ə-ˌser-ē
1
: going to happen with no way of preventing it : inescapable
tests are a necessary part of school
2
: being the only logically possible result
a necessary conclusion
3
: being required : mandatory
it is necessary to attend all practices
4
: absolutely needed : essential
food is necessary for life
necessarily
adverb
ˌnes-ə-ˈser-ə-lē
necessary
2 of 2 noun
plural necessaries
: something necessary : requirement
the necessaries of life
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