need

need¹ W1S1 [ni:d] v

1.) [T not in progressive]

to have to have something or someone, because you cannot do something without them, or because you cannot continue or cannot exist without them

= ↑require

▪ You don't really need a car.

▪ Plants need light in order to survive.

▪ The camcorder needs a new battery.

▪ Are you sure that you have everything you need ?

need sth for sth

▪ I need glasses for reading.

need sb to do sth

▪ I need you to help me with the cooking.

need sth desperately/badly/urgently

▪ More blood donors are urgently needed.

much needed/badly needed

▪ a much needed boost to the local economy

2.) [T not in progressive]

to feel that you want something very much

▪ I need a drink.

▪ If you need anything, just say.

need to do sth

▪ She said she needed to go out for a walk.

3.) need to do sth

used when saying that someone should do something or has to do something

▪ He needs to see a doctor straightaway.

▪ I need to catch up on my office work.

▪ You need to let me know by Monday if you want to take part.

4.) [modal] BrE

used in negative sentences when saying that something is not necessary or not always true

→↑have to need not/needn't

▪ You needn't stay long.

▪ Going to the dentist need not necessarily be a painful experience.

need not have done sth/need not do sth

▪ You needn't have spent all that money.

▪ I needn't have worried.

need I/we etc do sth

BrE old-fashioned

▪ Need we leave so soon?

sb need never do sth

▪ Jim need never find out what I said.

5.) [T]

used when saying that something should have something done to it, or has to have something done to it

sth needs doing

▪ The house needed painting.

▪ Does this shirt need ironing?

sth needs to be checked/cleaned/done etc

▪ The engine will need to be completely checked.

▪ The pie doesn't need to be refrigerated.

need a (good) wash/clean/cut etc

(=ought to be washed, cleaned etc)

▪ His hair needs a wash.

6.) [T]

if a job needs a quality or skill, you must have that quality or skill in order to do it well

▪ The job needs a lot of patience.

▪ Being a teacher needs a high level of motivation.

7.) I need hardly say/tell/remind etc

BrE used when you think people should already know what you are going to say

▪ I need hardly remind you that this information is confidential.

8.) you need only do sth/all you need do is ...

BrE used when saying that you only have to do something in order to do something else

▪ We need only look at the building to see how much money it will take to repair.

▪ All we need do is threaten them.

9.) need I ask/need I say more/ need I go on etc?

BrE used to say that it is not necessary to say more or ask about something, because the rest is clear

▪ She's lazy, slow, and stubborn. Need I say more?

10.) that's all I need/that's just what I didn't need

spoken used when saying that you did not want something to happen, especially when it seems annoying

▪ 'There's a customer for you on the phone.' 'That's all I need!'

11.) need sth like a hole in the head informal

used when saying that you definitely do not need something

12.) who needs it/them?

spoken

a) used to say you are not interested in something

▪ Make-up, who needs it?

b) used to say that someone or something is actually very important to you

▪ Kids? Who needs them!

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GRAMMAR

Verb patterns

You can say that you need to do something : I need to clean (NOT I need clean) the house.

If someone else is going to do something for you, you can say that you need something done or need something doing : I need my car fixed urgently. | You need your head examining!

When you are talking about the object that is going to have something done to it, you can say that it needs something doing or needs something to be done : My hair needs cutting. | That box needs to be moved (NOT needs moved).

Negatives

You can say that you don't need to do something or needn't do something : I don't need to leave (NOT don't need leave) until 10. |You needn't apologize (NOT needn't to apologize).

!! need not means that it is not necessary to do something. Do not use it to mean must not (=are not allowed to) : You needn't take any money. | You mustn't take any sharp objects on the plane.

!! needn't have means that it was not necessary for someone to do something that they in fact did. Do not use it to mean didn't need to or didn't have to (= something was not necessary) : We needn't have ordered so much food. | I didn't need OR didn't have to tell him who I was - he already knew.

Noun patterns

The most common noun patterns are a need for something and a need to do something : her need for friendship | a need to preserve the environment

!! Say there is a need , not 'it is a need'. Say a need for , not 'a need of' : There is a desperate need for cash.

You can also use the expression be in need of something : We are in need of funds (NOT We have a need of funds).

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need ²

need² W1S1 n

[: Old English; Origin: nied, ned]

1.) [singular]

a situation in which something is necessary, especially something that is not happening yet or is not yet available

need for

▪ Managers should explain the need for change.

▪ There's an urgent need for more nurses.

▪ There's a growing need for new housing in many rural areas.

a need to do sth

▪ We fully recognize the need to improve communications.

stress/emphasize/underline etc the need (for sth)

▪ She stressed the need for regular meetings.

▪ Training courses are held in London and in other centres as the need arises (=whenever it is necessary) .

▪ I'll work all night if need be (=if it is necessary) .

2.) [singular, U]

a strong feeling that you want something, want to do something, or that you must have something

need for

▪ the need for job satisfaction

feel the need (to do sth)

▪ Jack did not feel the need to boast about his success.

▪ You're welcome to come back and talk any time, if ever you feel the need.

3.) [C usually plural]

what someone needs to have in order to live a normal healthy comfortable life

▪ She works to provide for her family's basic needs .

sb's needs

▪ Environmentalists argue that the organization fails to address the needs of third world farmers.

meet/satisfy a need

(=provide something that people want or need)

▪ The charity exists to meet the needs of elderly people.

▪ Schools must satisfy the needs of their pupils.

▪ We have loans to meet your every need .

4.) there's no need (for sb) to do sth

a) used to say that someone does not have to do something

▪ There's no need for you to come if you don't want to.

▪ There's no need to feel sorry for him.

b) spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something

▪ There's no need to shout!

5.) be in need of sth

a) to need help, advice, money etc, because you are in a difficult situation

▪ This project is in urgent need of funding.

▪ He is homeless and in desperate need of help.

b) to need to be cleaned, repaired, or given attention in some way

▪ The church was in dire (=very great) need of repair.

6.) have no need of sth

to not need something

▪ She believes him and has no need of further proof.

7.) [U]

when you do not have enough food or money

▪ cases of severe need in the inner cities

in need

▪ We must care for those in need.

8.) in your hour of need

when you are in trouble and need someone to help you

▪ How could she abandon her father now, in his hour of need?

→↑special needs