need 1 of 2

verb

Definition of neednext
1
as in to require
to have as a requirement a national crisis that needs a strong leader to solve it

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2
as in to must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

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need

2 of 2

noun

ˈnēd How to pronounce need (audio)
1
as in lack
a state of being without something necessary, desirable, or useful when it came time to wrap the presents, he found he was in need of adhesive tape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in must
something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable got a job that barely provided for his basic needs

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3
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement no need to apologize

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in poverty
the state of lacking sufficient money or material possessions donating money to help those in need

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 need
Verb
The product, widely used in electronic devices such as laptops and smartphones, also stores the data that AI models need. — Yue Wang, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The age restriction for chimpanzee tracking is 12 years (gorillas, 15 years); childcare can be arranged if needed. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026
Noun
Zirpolo told the Statesman that the people behind Town and Country saw a need in the community for easy access to fresh and local products, and in just over a month of operation, the market has received positive feedback. — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026 Neptune in your 4th House of Home sextiles Pluto in your 2nd House of Resources, connecting private needs with practical values. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for need
Recent Examples of Synonyms for need
  1. require
  2. must
  3. lack
  4. requirement
  5. obligation
  6. poverty
  7. want
  8. necessity
Verb
  • Graham said, in one case, staff helped arrange transportation after a school required a young mother to walk more than a mile to a bus stop while carrying her baby, books and backpack.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • DeepSeek challenged the conventional wisdom that developing an advanced AI model requires massive financial investment and vast computing power, and offered competitive pricing.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Definition of require
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Definition of must
Noun
  • The studies, and lack of follow-through, raise the issue about what could have averted the still-climbing death toll, and what steps need to be taken to prepare for an inevitable next earthquake.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • People on social media reacted to the Observer’s report with outrage at CMPD’s lack of transparency and disbelief in their conclusion, as well as gratitude to the Observer for digging into the subject.
    — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn will move to propose measures related to waiving Boston Police Department residency requirements and allowing retired officers to take shifts as the department faces ongoing staffing challenges.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 27 July 2026
  • Missouri would become the first state in the nation with such a concurrent-majority requirement.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • Later in the day, discussions began to accelerate, with Villa moving to close the deal, which centred on an initial loan with a conditional obligation to buy.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The European Commission previously said AliExpress breached its obligations under the DSA, which required it to diligently assess and mitigate the risks of counterfeits.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 22 July 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • These measures are especially critical given the high rate of elderly poverty in Asia.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
  • The United Nations estimates that 90% of Syria’s population lives in poverty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of poverty
Verb
  • The sky-high payments could be caused by a lot of different things — buyers wanting big cars, low credit scores pushing monthly payments higher or high credit scores allowing for bigger loans.
    — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 24 July 2026
  • Residents didn’t want the plastic white bollards Charlotte typically uses.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • When families struggle to afford everyday necessities, economic statistics become less meaningful than their lived experience.
    — Hank Cardello, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The eccentric aunt aesthetic turns that necessity into a style statement.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Definition of necessity

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Cite this Entry

“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on need

Nglish: Translation of need for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about need

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