needs

American  

[needz] / nidz /

adverb

1. of necessity; necessarily (usually preceded or followed bymust ).

   It must needs be so.

   It needs must be.

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needs British  

/ niːdz /

adverb

1. (preceded or foll by must) of necessity

   we must needs go

   we will go, if needs must

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plural noun

1. what is required; necessities

   the needs of the third world

   his needs are modest

Etymology

Origin of needs

First recorded before 1000; Middle English nedis, Old English nēdes, originally genitive of nēd need; -s ¹

Example Sentences

But to reach its full potential, No Kings needs to explicitly name what is at stake in moral terms.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Chrysler just needs an actual portfolio of vehicles to sell, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

“This is a terrific facility; it needs a lot of work, but no one has been known to escape from Alcatraz and survive.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

“It might be hard to find something that meets your needs in the neighborhood you’re looking for,” Berner says.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

He thinks she needs to make proactive, strategic plans, or else she won’t accomplish anything at all.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison