Definition of need - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
necessityexpress necessity or obligation
- You need to finish your homework.
2.
requirementrequire something essential or necessary
- I need water to survive.
3.
emotionfeel a strong desire for something
- I need a vacation after this project.
Noun
1.
liferequirement for something essential or necessary in a situation
- There is a need for clean water here.
2.
help requiredcondition of vulnerability requiring help
- The shelter helps families in need.
3.
povertylack of means or resources
- Many families are living in need due to unemployment.
Expressions with need
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require something right away, often already overdue
We need a solution to this problem yesterday.
urgent requirement for something important
There is a crying need for better healthcare.
require a beverage to quench thirst
After the run, I really need a drink.
require an eye examination
If you can't read the sign, you might need your eyes checked.
the listener already understands the situation fully
She nodded, indicating no need to say more.
expresses that something is obvious or well-known
I hardly need to say that honesty is important.
if necessary or required
We can cancel the meeting if need be.
seek support or aid in a task
She needs a hand to finish her project on time.
requirement for quickness
The need for speed in the project was emphasized by the manager.
skip important steps to save time or money
They need to cut corners to meet the tight deadline.
require to increase effort or performance
You need to step up your game to win the championship.
anyone can do this without special skills
You don't need to be a genius to bake a cake.
used to imply the obviousness of a situation
The cake was delicious, need I say more?
act so strangely people think mental help is needed
You need your head checked if you believe that story!
showing someone or something badly lacks and urgently requires something
The school is in sore need of new computers.
be so well-known that everyone recognizes you
She needs no introduction at this event.
want praise or compliments to feel important
He always needs his ego massaged before meetings.
act in a way that shows very poor judgment
You need your head examined if you quit now.
no more explanation is needed
The figures show that sales have fallen sharply; need I say no more?
make a very poor decision
If you quit now, you need your head examined.
acting irrationally or making poor decisions
If you think that's a good idea, you need your head examined.
advise keeping distance when involved with harmful individuals
Remember, if you eat with the devil, you need a very long spoon.
seek praise or reassurance to feel confident and secure
He needs his ego stroked after every small success.
require something or someone for a purpose
We have need of more volunteers for the event.
Origin of need
Old English, neodian (be necessary)
Terms with need included in their meaning
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need food
feeling a need to eat
rest
in need of rest or sleep
biology
feel the need to eat
hydration
feel a need to drink
medical
feel a need to rest because of fatigue
customer service
ask a customer if they need assistance
tired
feeling or showing a need to sleep
physiology
feeling a need or desire to drink
ownership
you don't need to return it
warning device
device that signals danger or a need for attention
measurement
sufficiently to meet a need or requirement
support
assistance given to someone in need
nutrition
feel a stronger need for food
leave depart
need to leave a place or end a conversation
leaving
express need to leave a place or end a talk
medical
feeling a need to scratch the skin
adequate
sufficient to meet a need without excess
grammar
shows an insufficient amount of uncountable stuff for a need
quantity
shows an insufficient number of countable things for a need
requirement
too little to meet a need or required standard
polite refusal
no need for help or more action
calm
no need to hurry or rush
non-profit
organization providing help to those in need
generosity
act of giving help, usually money, to those in need
Examples of need in a sentence
We need to address this issue immediately. You need to finish your homework. Plants need sunlight to grow. You need to call your parents more often. They need support during this difficult time. The need for shelter is urgent now.
Education is a basic need for children. Donations reach people in urgent need. After the flood, many residents were in need. Charities aim to address the need in communities. The need for basic supplies was evident after the disaster.
View all translations of need
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:devoir, besoin, ...
- German:müssen, Bedarf, ...
- Italian:necessitare, necessità, ...
- Spanish:requerir, necesidad, ...
- Portuguese:necessitar, necessidade, ...
- Chinese:需要, 需求, ...
- Japanese:必要, 必要性, ...
- Arabic:اِحْتَاجَ, حاجَة, ...
- Hebrew:לְהִצְטָרֵךְ, צוֹרֶךְ, ...
- Russian:необходимо, потребность, ...
- Ukrainian:потребувати, потреба, ...
- Hindi:ज़रूरत, आवश्यक वस्तु, ...
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