necessitate

verb

ne·​ces·​si·​tate ni-ˈse-sə-ˌtāt How to pronounce necessitate (audio)
necessitated; necessitating
Synonyms of necessitatenext

transitive verb

1
: to make necessary : require
Business was growing, which necessitated the hiring of additional employees.
2
: force, compel
was necessitated to choose some other route
necessitation
ni-ˌse-sə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce necessitate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of necessitate

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Examples of necessitate in a Sentence

New safety regulations necessitated adding a railing to the stairs. getting new shoes would necessitate another trip to the mall
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Queen previously had a pacemaker installed in January 2025 after experiencing atrial fibrillation during a ski vacation, which necessitated her being airlifted to the hospital. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 This was nearly a full day after the latest injury there, and park officials have remained silent about what necessitated the closure. — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 There’s urgency to rediscover rhythm as Miller’s prophecy of scrutiny comes to pass, which necessitates decisive leadership. — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Railroads necessitated new logistical hubs and services around rail terminals. — George C. Lee Ii, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for necessitate

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of necessitate was in 1625

Rhymes for necessitate

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Browse Nearby Words

necessitarianism
necessitate
necessitation
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Cite this Entry

“Necessitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necessitate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

necessitate

verb
ne·​ces·​si·​tate ni-ˈses-ə-ˌtāt How to pronounce necessitate (audio)
necessitated; necessitating
: to make necessary
sick enough to necessitate staying home
necessitation
-ˌses-ə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce necessitate (audio)
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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