Definition of 'need'
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present
tense needs
, present participle needing
, past tense, past participle needed
Need sometimes behaves like an ordinary verb, for example 'She needs to know' and 'She
doesn't need to know' and sometimes like a modal, for example 'She need know', 'She
needn't know', or, in more formal English, 'She need not know.'
1. verb [no cont]
If you need something, or need to do something, you cannot successfully achieve what you want or live properly without it.
He desperately needed money. [VERB noun]
These diets provide everything your body needs. [VERB noun]
I need to make a phone call. [VERB to-infinitive]
A baby does not need to wear shoes until he starts to walk. [VERB to-infinitive]
I need you to do something for me. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
I need you here, Wally. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
I need you sane and sober. [VERB noun adjective]
Need is also a noun.
Charles has never felt the need to compete with anyone.
...the child who never had his need for attention and importance satisfied. [+ for]
...the special nutritional needs of the elderly. [+ of]
2. verb [no cont]
If an object or place needs something doing to it, that action should be done to improve the object or place. If a task needs doing, it should be done to improve a particular situation.
The building needs quite a few repairs. [VERB noun]
...a garden that needs tidying. [VERB verb-ing]
The taste of vitamins is not too nice so the flavour sometimes needs to be disguised. [VERB to-infinitive]
3. singular noun [NOUN to-infinitive]
If there is a need for something, that thing would improve a situation or something cannot happen without it.
Mr Forrest believes there is a need for other similar schools throughout Britain. [+ for]
'I think we should see a specialist.'—'I don't think there's any need for that.' [+ for]
There's no need for you to stay. [+ for]
4. modal verb [with neg]
If you say that someone needn't do something, you are telling them not to do it, or advising or suggesting that they should not do it.
'I'll put the key in the window.'—'You needn't bother,' he said gruffly.
Look, you needn't shout.
She need not know I'm here.
Need is also a verb.
Well, for Heaven's sake, you don't need to apologize. [VERB to-infinitive]
Come along, Mother, we don't need to take up any more of Mr Kemp's time. [VERB to-infinitive]
5. modal verb
If you tell someone that they needn't do something, or that something needn't happen, you are telling them that that thing is not necessary, in order to make them
feel better.
You needn't worry.
This needn't take long, Simon.
Buying budget-priced furniture needn't mean compromising on quality or style.
Loneliness can be horrible, but it need not remain that way.
Need is also a verb.
He replied, with a reassuring smile, 'Oh, you don't need to worry about them.' [VERB to-infinitive]
You don't need to be a millionaire to consider having a bank account in Switzerland. [VERB to-infinitive]
6. modal verb [with neg]
You use needn't when you are giving someone permission not to do something.
You needn't come again, if you don't want to.
Well, you needn't tell me anything if you don't want to.
Need is also a verb.
You don't need to wait for me. [VERB to-infinitive]
Mommy, you don't need to stay while we talk. [VERB to-infinitive]
7. modal verb [with neg]
[formal]
What is right for us need not be right for others.
Freedom need not mean independence.
8. modal verb [with neg]
If someone needn't have done something, it was not necessary or useful for them to do it, although they did it.
I was a little nervous when I announced my engagement to Grace, but I needn't have
worried.
We spent a hell of a lot of money that we needn't have spent.
If someone didn't need to do something, they needn't have done it.
You didn't need to give me any more money you know, but thank you. [VERB to-infinitive]
9. modal verb
You use need in expressions such as I need hardly say and I needn't add to emphasize that the person you are talking to already knows what you are going to say.
[emphasis] I needn't add that if you fail to do as I ask, you will suffer the consequences.
Need is also a verb.
I hardly need to say that I have never lost contact with him. [VERB to-infinitive]
10. modal verb
You can use need in expressions such as 'Need I say more' and 'Need I go on' when you want to avoid stating an obvious consequence of something you have just said.
Mid-fifties, short black hair, grey moustache, distinctive Russian accent. Need I
go on?
11.
12.
16.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'need'
verb
2. (transitive)
to need to do more work
3. (takes an infinitive without to)
used as an auxiliary in negative and interrogative sentences to express necessity or obligation, and does not add -s when used with he, she, it, and singular nouns
need she go?
noun
9.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'need'
noun
3.
something useful, required, or desired that is lacking; want; requirement
list your daily needs
4.
a.
a friend in need
b.
a condition of poverty, or extreme want
verb transitive
5.
to have need of; want or lack; require
need is often used as an auxiliary, either uninflected and followed by an infinitive without
to, or inflected and followed by an infinitive with to, meaning “to be obliged, must” he need not come, he needs to be careful
verb intransitive
7.
to be in need
SIMILAR WORDS: lack
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: need refers to an urgent requirement of something essential or desirable that is lacking;
, necessity, a more formal word, suggests an imperative need for something indispensable but
lacks the emotional connotations of , need [they are in need of food, food is a necessity for all living things]; exigency refers to a necessity created by some emergency, crisis, or compelling circumstances
[the exigencies created by the flood]; requisite applies to something that is indispensable to a particular end or goal [a sense of rhythm is a requisite in a dancer] needsWebster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
noun
Word origin of 'need'
Example sentences containing 'need'
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
There may come a time when such cases do not need to come to court. Times, Sunday Times (2016)In a good economy you only need to worry about bad people doing bad things. Computing (2010)Say you need his help to rebuild the trust and help you feel secure again. The Sun (2016)You may also need to display these in a group task. The Sun (2016)What is needed in this situation is an independent body to step in. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We in the care sector need money and we need it now. Times, Sunday Times (2016)You need to see it in motion. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We just need him to stay fit as he is one of the best around. The Sun (2016)You will probably need to ask for an assessment. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Some say you need to drink lots to get the benefit - as much as six cups a day. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The service brings in business because many accountants realise that their cases need a specialist. Times, Sunday Times (2006)We needed to take money to make sure people had the money they said they had. Times, Sunday Times (2013)They need to be helped to regain their dignity as human beings. The Sun (2012)This recipe is so simple that it hardly needs instructions. Times, Sunday Times (2011)You scarcely needed to ask your boyfriend how she feels. Times, Sunday Times (2008)You always see more needs at the end of a day than you recognized at the beginning. Christianity Today (2000)You need to stay in there a minimum of eight or nine hours. Times, Sunday Times (2013)You will also need to buy a suitable plinth and an arm. Times, Sunday Times (2012)You need something very special to get past them. Times, Sunday Times (2016)We will always need and want more military muscle than we can afford. Times, Sunday Times (2011)Too often their basic needs are not met. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The other was just a rubbish penalty that did not need to go in. The Sun (2015)We need to improve our transport networks. Times, Sunday Times (2006)We need a similar focus on value in terms of our beneficiaries. Times, Sunday Times (2015)You need to think how can you make your delivery as effective as possible. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The extra work force was needed to meet the deadline. Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)Need a case to prove your point? Times, Sunday Times (2006) Say you need more of his time and attention or the moving arrangements are off - for good. The Sun (2012)
Trends of 'need'
Extremely Common. need is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary
View usage for:
Translations for 'need'
British English: need
/niːd/ NOUN
If you have a need for something, you cannot do what you want without it.
We try to understand each other's needs.
- American English: need
- Arabic: حَاجَةٌ
- Brazilian Portuguese: necessidade
- Chinese: 需求
- Croatian: potreba
- Czech: potřeba
- Danish: behov
- Dutch: behoefte
- European Spanish: necesidad urgencia
- Finnish: tarve
- French: besoin
- German: Bedürfnis
- Greek: ανάγκη
- Italian: esigenza
- Japanese: 必要
- Korean: 요구
- Norwegian: behov
- Polish: potrzeba
- European Portuguese: necessidade
- Romanian: nevoie
- Russian: необходимый элемент
- Spanish: necesidad
- Swedish: behov
- Thai: ความต้องการ
- Turkish: ihtiyaç
- Ukrainian: потреба
- Vietnamese: nhu cầu
British English: need
/niːd/ VERB
If you need something, you believe that you must have it or do it.
I need some more money.
- American English: need
- Arabic: يَحَتاجُ إِلَى
- Brazilian Portuguese: precisar
- Chinese: 需要
- Croatian: trebati
- Czech: potřebovat
- Danish: behøve
- Dutch: nodig hebben
- European Spanish: necesitar
- Finnish: tarvita
- French: avoir besoin
- German: brauchen
- Greek: χρειάζομαι
- Italian: aver bisogno
- Japanese: 必要とする
- Korean: 필요하다
- Norwegian: trenge
- Polish: potrzebować
- European Portuguese: precisar
- Romanian: a avea nevoie
- Russian: нуждаться
- Spanish: necesitar
- Swedish: behöva
- Thai: ต้องการ
- Turkish: gerek duymak
- Ukrainian: потребувати
- Vietnamese: cần
Nearby words of 'need'
Related Terms of 'need'
Source
Definition of need from the
Collins English Dictionary
New collocations added to dictionary
Collocations are words that are often used together and are brilliant at providing natural sounding language for your speech and writing.
Read more
Unlock language with the Paul Noble method
No books. No rote memorization. No chance of failure. Your chance to have a one-to-one lesson with best-selling language expert Paul Noble, try a FREE audio sample of his brand new Mandarin Chinese course.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
13th edition of the Collins Dictionary out now!
Updated with all the very latest new words and senses, this new 13th edition is an unparalleled resource for word lovers, word gamers, and word geeks everywhere.
#homeoflivingenglish
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more