/ niːd; NAmE / verb , modal verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to require sth/sb because they are essential or very important, not just because you would like to have them :
[ vn ]
Do you need any help?
It's here if you need it.
Don't go—I might need you.
They badly needed a change.
Food aid is urgently needed.
What do you need your own computer for? You can use ours.
I don't need your comments, thank you.
[ v to inf ]
I need to get some sleep.
He needs to win this game to stay in the match.
You don't need to leave yet, do you?
[ v -ing , v to inf ]
This shirt needs washing.
This shirt needs to be washed.
➡ note at reason
2.
[ v to inf ] used to show what you should or have to do :
All you need to do is complete this form.
I didn't need to go to the bank after all—Mary lent me the money.
➡ note at modal
•
IDIOMS
- need (to have) your head examined
■ modal verb
( negative need not , short form needn't / ˈniːdnt; NAmE /) ( BrE ) need (not) do sth | need (not) have done sth used to state that sth is/was not necessary or that only very little is/was necessary; used to ask if sth is/was necessary :
You needn't finish that work today.
You needn't have hurried (= it was not necessary for you to hurry, but you did) .
I need hardly tell you (= you must already know) that the work is dangerous.
If she wants anything, she need only ask.
All you need bring are sheets.
Need you have paid so much?
■ noun
1.
[ sing. , U ] need (for sth) | need (for sb/sth) to do sth a situation when sth is necessary or must be done :
to satisfy / meet / identify a need
There is an urgent need for qualified teachers.
There is no need for you to get up early tomorrow.
I had no need to open the letter—I knew what it would say.
The house is in need of a thorough clean.
We will contact you again if the need arises.
There's no need to cry (= stop crying) .
2.
[ C , U ] a strong feeling that you want sb/sth or must have sth :
to fulfil an emotional need
She felt the need to talk to someone.
I'm in need of some fresh air.
She had no more need of me.
3.
[ C , usually pl. ] the things that sb requires in order to live in a comfortable way or achieve what they want :
financial needs
a programme to suit your individual needs
to meet children's special educational needs
4.
[ U ] the state of not having enough food, money or support
SYN hardship :
The charity aims to provide assistance to people in need .
He helped me in my hour of need .
—see also needy
•
IDIOMS
- if need be
—more at crying adjective , friend
••
GRAMMAR
need
In BrE there are two separate verbs need .
Need as a main verb has the question form do you need? , the negative you don't need and the past forms needed , did you need? and didn't need . It has two meanings: 1. to require something or to think that something is necessary:
Do you need any help?
•
I needed to get some sleep.
2. to have to or to be obliged to do sth:
Will we need to show our passports?
Need as a modal verb has need for all forms of the present tense, need you? as the question form and need not (needn't) as the negative. The past is need have , needn't have . It is used to say that something is or is not necessary:
Need I pay the whole amount now?
In NAmE only the main verb is used.This leads to some important differences in the use and meaning of need in British and American English.
In NAmE it is more common for need to be used to speak about what is necessary, rather than about what you must do:
I don't need to go home yet — it's still early.
( BrE and NAmE = it isn't necessary)•
You don't need to go home yet — we never go to bed before midnight.
( BrE = you don't have to.)
The difference is even more noticeable in the past tenses:
He didn't need to go to hospital, but he went just to reassure himself.
( NAmE )•
He needn't have gone to hospital, but he went just to reassure himself.
( BrE = he did something that wasn't necessary.)•
He didn't need to go to hospital after all — he only had a few bruises.
( BrE = he didn't go.)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English nēodian (verb), nēod , nēd (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch nood and German Not danger.