needs 1 of 3

Definition of needsnext
as in necessarily
because of necessity the dangers of global warming must needs be recognized—and recognized soon—by the industrialized nations of the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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needs

2 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of need
1
2
as in must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

needs

3 of 3

noun

plural of need

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of needs
Verb
Conversations can start light but shift quickly once something real needs to be said. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026 Virgo August 23 – September 22 Something at home needs attention before everything else works smoothly today. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026 One item that needs less funding is government bureaucracy and low-value administrative spending. Mark Dee may 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026 To stay ahead of the curve, the USAF needs an aircraft that can not only see further, coordinate faster, but also survive in an increasingly EW-hostile battlespace. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 May 2026 But the curve needs to trend upward. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 3 May 2026 The reality is there's always something in the business that needs your attention. Alina Selyukh, NPR, 3 May 2026 Step back, decide what needs to be said, and deliver it once with clarity and control. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2026 Their in-game performance needs to be better. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
August 23 – September 22 Something at home needs adjusting before everything else works smoothly today. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026 Virgo August 23 – September 22 Something at home needs adjusting before everything else works smoothly today. Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026 That’s why looking at birthrates alone to predict the capacity needs of pediatric hospitals isn’t enough, Quiroga said. Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026 In software engineering, for example, the task is coding, but the purpose is innovation, problem-solving, connecting disparate ideas, and identifying new needs. Jason Ma, Fortune, 2 May 2026 Adjust frequency based on individual plant needs. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 May 2026 The triumvirate of protectors got Romans into testing that proved his IQ was off the charts and found programs that helped his mother learn how to navigate his needs. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 May 2026 Innovative, imaginative solutions that meet growth in population, business and agricultural needs. Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026 Las Vegas has depth at the edge, making the Auburn product an interesting pick considering needs like offensive line, defensive tackle and wide receiver are still unfilled. Sam Warren, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • For The Times) Dollars and sensitivities The financial implications of the strike are difficult to calculate at this juncture, but the district doesn’t necessarily lose money.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Cervas noted the Voting Rights Act isn’t necessarily a partisan benefit for Democrats.
    Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Protecting these landmarks requires collaboration among civic leaders, developers, property owners, architects, preservationists and engaged citizens.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • Black spot requires six to seven hours of continuous moisture to initiate infection.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • The system establishes operational standards through its three main functions that develop incentives while tracking performance and ensuring projects meet actual environmental requirements.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 1 May 2026
  • The guns must meet certain size and weight requirements.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Connecticut failed to save properly for pensions for seven decades prior to 2011, racking up tens of billions in unfunded obligations.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
  • The initiative represents a pivotal shift in how the kingdom approaches its cultural heritage and environmental obligations.
    FMG Studios, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Adverb
  • Decadent art, with its mannerism, also its enthusiasm for skulls, swords, strippers, and other Hot Topic motifs, is for some art historians an embarrassing cul-de-sac best passed over in favor of a narrative of formal progress leading inevitably to abstraction.
    Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
  • And shortages in other parts of the world will inevitably hit the United States, albeit with a delay.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Say that a presidential candidate wants to create universal prekindergarten, implement a comprehensive parental-leave policy, lower the Medicare-eligibility age, and invest in clean energy and cancer research.
    Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • In the state’s email to Abruzzo seeking to know more about the reserves, Fennell didn’t specify why the state wants the information.
    Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The poll, conducted at the beginning of April, adds to a picture of economic gloom in the US, as Americans worry about the affordability of gas and other necessities and express pessimism about the job market.
    Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The clash between misguided concepts of individual freedom and the necessities of social responsibility won’t end soon.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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