needs 1 of 3

Definition of needsnext
as in necessarily
because of necessity the dangers of global warming must needs be recognized—and recognized soon—by the industrialized nations of the world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

needs

2 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of need
1
2
as in must
to be under necessity or obligation to you need not stand when she enters the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

needs

3 of 3

noun

plural of need

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 needs
Verb
For Rajasthan, Somani was an existing shareholder and moved to take full control of the franchise in a deal that still needs approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Indian media reported. Chetan Narula, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026 Infrastructure needs are critical for students to learn, Iniguez added, which is why the district needs to constantly repair and maintain them — including air conditioning systems. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 The first really poignant lesson for us was, there needs to be more drones. Holly Williams, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026 Miami needs to finish among the East’s top six teams to clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament, which features the seventh-through-10th-place teams competing for the final two playoff seeds in each conference. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 Even with strong performance at both room and extremely low temperatures, the team noted that the electrolyte’s high-temperature stability still needs improvement. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026 Some progressive lawmakers and outside groups have called for a generational shift in leadership, arguing the party needs a more aggressive posture to energize voters. Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2026 But not every great season needs a trophy to back it up. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026 Or the beginning farmer paying land rental rates that spiked with the Ukraine war and who needs a few thousand gallons of diesel to get his crop in the ground in the next six weeks. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
Because this energy is centered in Scorpio and Cancer, we’re blessed with the depth of soul needed to accept the true needs of others and ourselves. Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026 Specifically, one cup of dairy milk offers 310 milligrams of calcium (about 25 percent of your daily needs) and 8 grams of complete protein, according to Ehsani. Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026 Miami still has major needs at edge defender, cornerback, safety and on the offensive line, while wide receiver could easily rise to the forefront of those needs after the trade that sent Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026 Catholic Charities responds to some of our communities’ most urgent needs. Marek Kukulka, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026 Spacecraft menus are developed to meet the crews' nutritional needs and support their performance while also aligning with crew members’ food preferences and what the spacecraft can actually accommodate. Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2026 Chadwick said the University of Kansas Hospital will continue partnerships with hospitals across the metro that provide PICU services to help meet patient needs. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026 Those needs are likely to mean a more thorough dive into the transfer portal and additional exploration of the Canadian major junior leagues — two areas where Motzko’s program did not play very often. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 Preparation means understanding your client’s business, their operational needs, and their financial guardrails. Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for needs
Adverb
  • The new biennials that emerged in non-Western cities in these years offered an alternative to this idea that difference necessarily leads to conflict, proposing spaces in which difference could be staged without being territorialized.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Not that any of this will necessarily be a problem for the youngsters, or for nostalgic adults who grew up playing the Nintendo games and seem intent on never moving on from their childhood obsessions.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Libra September 23 – October 22 Libra, balance requires substance behind the smile.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The challenge is that manure is already extremely nutrient-dense—often providing far more nitrogen and phosphorus than even a productive garden requires.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The block party is free, but people who want to attend must RSVP.
    Chantelle Lee, Time, 30 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Membership there had political as well as social requirements.
    Michael Gorra, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The tax, plus the bill’s disclosure requirements, would deter third parties from offering this funding and could inadvertently dox conservative activists and donors.
    George Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The letter declared the company in default of its contractual obligations with Miami-Dade County and demanded a fix to problems that had forced garages to let an unknown number of travelers exit without paying.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Lamont and the legislature also failed to budget adequately for certain legal obligations.
    Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Maybe the tricks learned during this trial can help drivers form some better, cheaper habits to continue when gas prices inevitably decrease again.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 29 Mar. 2026
  • And some of those people inevitably are going to relapse.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Scorpio October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2026
  • October 23 – November 21 What quiet truth wants a little space?
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Despite numerous complaints to health inspectors from elderly people that Salmos 23 left them wanting the most basic necessities — like toilet paper — DCF chose it as a refuge over hundreds of other homes.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Because these orders were issued without sufficient planning for necessities, many households ran short of food.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/needs. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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