needful

[ need-fuhl ]

adjective

1. necessary or required:

   needful supplies.

2. needy.

needful

/ ˈniːdfʊl /

adjective

1. necessary; needed; required
2. archaic.
   needy; poverty-stricken

noun

1. the needful informal.
   money or funds

   do you have the needful?

2. do the needful
   to perform a necessary task

Derived Forms

• ˈneedfulness, noun
• ˈneedfully, adverb

Other Words From

• needful·ly adverb
• needful·ness noun
• un·needful adjective
• un·needful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of needful¹

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; need, -ful

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. the needful, Slang. money, especially immediately available cash:

   They haven't the needful for a car right now.

Example Sentences

Council, harms our most needful citizens and provides legislative solutions that are potentially dangerous for them and the community.

From Washington Post

His grief-stricken family has sought explanations as to how doctors could have found their loved one competent to “choose” death much less needful of it.

From Washington Post

Many will be young men and women who will risk prison, or worse, to deliver the facts to a needful public — even if some of the public don't want to hear it.

From Salon

I am grateful to the composers, lyricists, performers and musicians for bringing their wonderful, inspiring gift of music to a needful world.

From Washington Post

He is doing the needful to train the boy for recruitment into his Regiment.

From BBC