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

Relevance

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
For Rajasthan, Somani was an existing shareholder and moved to take full control of the franchise in a deal that still needs approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Indian media reported. Chetan Narula, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026 Infrastructure needs are critical for students to learn, Iniguez added, which is why the district needs to constantly repair and maintain them — including air conditioning systems. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 The first really poignant lesson for us was, there needs to be more drones. Holly Williams, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026 Miami needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament, which features the seventh-through-10th-place teams competing for the final two playoff seeds in each conference. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 Even with strong performance at both room and extremely low temperatures, the team noted that the electrolyte’s high-temperature stability still needs improvement. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026 Some progressive lawmakers and outside groups have called for a generational shift in leadership, arguing the party needs a more aggressive posture to energize voters. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026 But not every great season needs a trophy to back it up. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026 Or the beginning farmer paying land rental rates that spiked with the Ukraine war and who needs a few thousand gallons of diesel to get his crop in the ground in the next six weeks. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Wellness screenings offer a non-invasive analysis of each guest’s key biomarkers to understand individual needs. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026 February 19 – March 20 Small choices ought to honor your current needs. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026 As participation has grown, so have the operational needs required to safely store, transport, and distribute food at this scale. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026 However, Xcel said in its March 2 report on Comanche that options to cover electricity needs over the next few years include keeping Comanche 2 operating beyond the current retirement date at the end of 2026 and keeping two coal units at Hayden Station in Routt County running until 2030. Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026 And what did his mother pack that will fill all his needs? Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026 Preparation means understanding your client’s business, their operational needs, and their financial guardrails. Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 List your values, wants and needs. Olivia Munson, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026 Rather than restricting grid access, legislation should require that data centers be designed for grid interactivity — the ability to dynamically adjust energy consumption in coordination with the grid’s needs. Brian Barlow, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • The new biennials that emerged in non-Western cities in these years offered an alternative to this idea that difference necessarily leads to conflict, proposing spaces in which difference could be staged without being territorialized.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Not that any of this will necessarily be a problem for the youngsters, or for nostalgic adults who grew up playing the Nintendo games and seem intent on never moving on from their childhood obsessions.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After all, walking requires no gym membership, expensive equipment or specialized training and is accessible to nearly everyone and can be done almost anywhere.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Navigating the country can take time and often requires long drives and a 4x4 vehicle, especially during the green season.
    Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Framed as deregulation, the bill sets a statewide minimum lot size of 1,500 square feet while also shrinking setbacks and eliminating dimensional requirements that could stand in the way of building multiple compact homes on at least four acres of land.
    Mark Dee March 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026
  • No ban on mask-wearing federal agents and no requirements for judicial warrants for immigration raids were in the final deal, which could spark a new clash once Congress returns from spring break.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The 2012 nationalization of Argentina's largest energy company, further damaged Argentina’s international standing by reinforcing its history of abandoning its global financial obligations.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Netflix and Disney+ consider investment obligations imposed by Wallonia-Brussels as disproportionate, given the size of the region.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Maybe the tricks learned during this trial can help drivers form some better, cheaper habits to continue when gas prices inevitably decrease again.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • And some of those people inevitably are going to relapse.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Scorpio October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
  • October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Despite numerous complaints to health inspectors from elderly people that Salmos 23 left them wanting the most basic necessities — like toilet paper — DCF chose it as a refuge over hundreds of other homes.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Because these orders were issued without sufficient planning for necessities, many households ran short of food.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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