Meaning & use
dire need
Last updated
Meaning
phraseuncountableformal
A very great and urgent need for something.
Grammar: Usually used in the phrase 'in dire need of something'. It is not used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- in dire need of something
- be in dire need
- someone's dire need for something
The hospital is in dire need of blood donors.
After the earthquake, thousands were in dire need of food and shelter.
She was in dire need of a rest after working three days without sleep.
Common combinations
- in dire need of
- The school is in dire need of new computers.
- dire need for
- There is a dire need for clean water in the region.
- be in dire need
- Many families are in dire need after the flood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- desperate need
- Desperate need is very similar but slightly more emotional; dire need is more formal and often used in official reports.
- urgent need
- Urgent need means something must be done quickly; dire need adds the idea that the situation is extremely serious.
Commonly confused: dire need or dear need?
dire need vs dear need
'Dear need' is not an English phrase. 'Dire' means extremely serious or urgent, while 'dear' means loved or expensive.
Practice
After the hurricane, the town was in ______ need of medical supplies.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'in dire need of', meaning a very urgent need. 'Dear' means loved or expensive; 'direly' is an adverb, not an adjective; 'direct' does not fit the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dire need”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.