the necessary

noun

British, informal
: whatever is needed for some purpose
I'll do the necessary to get the job done.

Examples of the necessary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In 2003, at 11 years old, Kim Eun-jae signed with the Korean agency SM Entertainment as a trainee, hoping to rise through the necessary steps to become a K-pop idol. Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 29 Jan. 2026 Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026 Separated from his online platform, the film’s star reveals himself as an actor still acquiring the necessary tools for emotional subtlety. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 29 Jan. 2026 The hope is that the institutional reforms started by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus deliver the necessary checks and balances to avert another lurch toward despotism. Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the necessary

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20necessary. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!