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

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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 controller takes the panel's fluctuating voltage and converts it into the steady voltage the battery needs to charge properly, so the whole setup runs solar panel → charge controller → battery, with only a small energy loss along the way. — New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 Researchers also need better control over transformation speed, durability, repeatability and operating conditions. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
Donnelson hopes to raise more than the $1,500 minimum, with money going toward needs such as roof repairs and tree removal for residents without the resources to pay for the work themselves. — Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026 That’s when parents might want to consider introducing them to the PG-13 movie, a film designed to meet the needs of tweens and teens without going too far into grown-up territory. — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 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
  • The suits would not require the Pentagon to restart its work with the company.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Clubs would be required to set their 26-man roster every Monday during the season, but the rule wouldn’t be strict.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 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
  • Because of a lack of variety in Halal restaurants, neither of the men had tried barbecue besides brisket before their trip.
    — Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fast growth and lack of warnings compound disaster Steiner said about 10% of Nepal’s power production was located in the valley affected by the latest disaster.
    — Sibi Arasu, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of lack
Noun
  • Some have no down payment requirements, most have below-average interest rates and many come with lower closing costs and monthly payments, thanks to no PMI requirements.
    — Dan Simms, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This allows individuals to evaluate the organization's mission, team dynamics, and actual time requirements.
    — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • Current remaining performance obligation (cRPO) up 14% in constant currency, which is also 1 percentage point above the July quarter guide.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The school board directed the Superintendent to determine what the district’s financial obligations would be if a Schools of Hope charter occupied a closed school.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of obligation
Noun
  • He was born in abject poverty in rural Georgia, Pin Point, Georgia.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Corruption was endemic, and the country’s deeper troubles—its poverty, its social inequities, and the hopeless conditions that drive millions of Nepalis to emigrate for work—endured, laying the kindling for last year’s explosion.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of poverty
Verb
  • The league also wants to make players eligible for the Rule 5 draft earlier in their careers.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Hammack voted to raise rates at the Fed’s last meeting in July, but she was outvoted by fellow members of the Federal Open Market Committee who wanted to keep them steady.
    — Brian Cheung, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • Kick the can If Congress fails to act, payments are expected to be 22% lower, which could be devastating for the millions of seniors who rely on their Social Security benefits to pay for basic necessities.
    — Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The military used to understand that troops’ well-being was central to their ability to perform—and that improving the quality of life for those in the armed forces was not just a nicety, but a necessity.
    — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of necessity

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nectars
need
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Cite this Entry

“Need.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/need. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on need

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about need

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