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
In this Gothic fantasy debut, Leena Al-Sayer bargains her ability to see the dead in order to pay for the expensive medicine her brother Rami needs to live. Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026 Maryland needs a professional engineering concept study, a big-picture sketch done by people who understand how power systems work, who have built things before and who are not emotionally attached to particular solutions. Alex Pavlak, Baltimore Sun, 1 Feb. 2026 That is very intimidating to a lot of guys, so a guy needs to be able to stand in that with me. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026 Poppy needs a place to stay, Jules is a beleaguered email job haver. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 1 Feb. 2026 There’s some people who committed crimes, and that needs to be looked at. NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026 A lot of analysis needs to be done. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026 Share needs plainly so collaboration can flourish. Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026 To share data, Dexcom needs user consent. Noelle Harff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Noun
The vehicles can also be built to be recoverable in support of ever-changing mission needs. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026 And, though able to navigate a great deal of the daily routine, Anna has gaps that will widen as her parents’ needs become more demanding. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026 In the home decor section, there are plenty of options to meet your storage needs. Kylie Petty, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Jan. 2026 Make sure to choose the best dimmer switch that matches your needs, type of room, and type of light bulbs. Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026 For those drawn to 75 Hard’s structure, experts suggest modifying the program to suit individual needs. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026 The cautious quincunx between Venus and Jupiter today impacts your resource zone and your partnership arena, which means that your needs might not match up with those of your peers. Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026 Now legislators are looking to increase the use of modular homes, or those that are made in factories but assembled on site, to help alleviate the state’s housing needs. Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026 Locals say buffets have adapted to meet the needs of a city that is constantly changing. Jessica Hill, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • Unless they are killed by federal agents, as Pretti and Renee Good were, other activists do not even necessarily know their names.
    Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026
  • This week’s cinematic celebration is necessarily bittersweet.
    Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The documents were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure that requires the government to open its files on the late financier and his confidante and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • This fast-growing, durable plant is a good choice to stabilize a bank and requires little maintenance.
    Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Organizations should approach this evaluation with realistic expectations about the supervision requirements and plan for hybrid workflows where human operators correct and guide robotic systems through their initial learning phases.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Democratic state lawmakers want to allow Georgia cities to adopt sanctuary policies and eliminate requirements for local sheriffs to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
    Lautaro Grinspan, AJC.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • These bond authorizations create obligations to repay borrowing for priorities as wide-ranging as health facilities, water infrastructure and wildfire prevention.
    Lanhee J. Chen, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026
  • These financial obligations can even create pressure to dismiss fair settlement offers in search of larger returns for investors.
    Jaime Huff, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • Wear sandals—you’ll likely kick them off as the afternoon inevitably turns into dancing on the tables.
    Molly Barstein, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The open availability of this kind of material poses a threat not only to migrants and activists but anyone with a digital footprint, because depending on AI to sort through it will inevitably lead to mistakes.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Red Hill wants to change that in partnership with nearby business, housing complexes and University City Partners, a nonprofit that advocates for economic development in the area.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Premier League football will be a big step up, but there will be no surprises in what Rosenior wants from him on the pitch.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Palestinians in Gaza who spoke with the AP in recent weeks questioned whether the ceasefire's next steps will improve conditions, pointing to ongoing bloodshed and ongoing challenges in securing basic necessities.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Palestinians in Gaza who spoke to The Associated Press in recent weeks questioned whether moving into phase two of the ceasefire will improve conditions on the ground, pointing to ongoing bloodshed and challenges securing basic necessities.
    Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.

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