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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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 fear of effeminization has never felt so acute, which presumably is why Matt Damon’s Odysseus needed bulging muscles, to ensure his sensitivity was mitigated by pecs of steel. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026 Ultimately, what is driving all of these things is the theme and the emotion underneath it, and that is the thing that everything else needs to spiral out of. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
Responses about data centers Three out of five survey participants also oppose the construction of more data centers in Georgia to serve AI needs. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026 While authorities have stressed the need to get Bukangi out to sea quickly, Kim said patience will be key, giving the shark time to adjust to the waters beyond the canal before venturing farther out. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 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
  • Selective harvesting can help restore kelp forests, Salomon says, but doing so effectively requires sustained effort.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Best Affordable Option Some affordable mattresses require compromise, but contributor Jacorey Moon doesn’t feel that’s the case with Zinus’ Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 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 demonstrations first erupted last month in a high school in Creteil, southeast of Paris, over a lack of staff.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Management is guiding to flat EBITDA margins for the year, as lower-margin acquisitions and a fading FX tailwind offset productivity gains, so don't be worried about a lack of profitability growth in coming quarters.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • The Spanish Navy and Navantia are working from operational requirements, and the final design must still go through procurement.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • American technology therefore qualified for the Commission’s own sovereign cloud requirements through a European operating structure.
    — Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • Such a decision can affect production scheduling, inventory needs, employee activities and customers’ obligations.
    — Ramachander Rao Thallada, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Anthropic's off-balance-sheet obligations are similarly large.
    — Ashley Capoot,Jordan Novet,Annie Palmer,Lora Kolodny,Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • The state persistently ranks near the bottom nationally on poverty, crime and public education, and disenchanted voters are pleading for change.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In India millions of men in poverty were sterilized during the Emergency (1975–77), when the government declared a state of emergency and curtailed civil liberties.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of poverty
Verb
  • Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership, a four-legged stationary lander, descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Florida Poly now wants to investigate what a piloted electric aircraft can offer.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • Waitlists for child care assistance exploded, forcing low-income households to sideline a parent from the workforce or forgo necessities to foot a child care bill.
    — Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Waitlists for childcare assistance exploded, forcing low-income households to sideline a parent from the workforce or forgo necessities to foot a childcare bill.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of necessity

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nectars
need
needed
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Cite this Entry

“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about need

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