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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.

Norris says that to repeat his Silverstone win last year "we'll need a hell of a lot of luck" but he's still "very excited" about the weekend.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

Some physicians expressed concerns about the need to protect patient trust, avoid coercion and prevent preferential treatment for wealthy donors.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 2, 2026

Analysts say SpaceX would need a ground network to provide links to locations satellites can’t service well, like inside of buildings or tunnels.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

Those are our strengths, and I think we need to lean into that now more than ever.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

Why does an artist need to carry a saber?

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly




Vocabulary lists containing need


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