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Definitions

need

[need] / nid /






Usage

What are other ways to say need? The verb need often suggests urgency, stressing the necessity of supplying what is lacking: to need an operation, better food, a match to light the fire. Require, which expresses necessity as strongly as need, occurs most frequently in serious or formal contexts: Your presence at the hearing is required. Successful experimentation requires careful attention to detail. Lack means to be without or to have less than a desirable quantity of something: to lack courage, sufficient money, enough members to make a quorum. 

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“That’s what we need to do,” de Meo said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is visiting allies in the Gulf, last night meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who agreed on the need for a lasting peace.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

The boats, each with a capacity of 25 passengers, have adopted the car-charging standard, so that operators can use existing infrastructure such as the Tesla supercharger network without the need for major investments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

For that to happen, though, oil prices will need to cooperate.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

He gives me a slight nod, his way of confirming that yes, we need to tell her.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam