needful

Meanings

1. 1adjectivenot comparableold-fashionedformal

   Necessary or required for a particular purpose or situation.

   Grammar: Usually used before a noun: the needful supplies. Not normally used after a verb like 'be'.

   Patterns

   • needful for something
   • the needful action

   They gathered the needful supplies before the storm arrived.

   The committee took the needful steps to address the complaint.

   He did what was needful to complete the project on time.

2. 2adjectivenot comparablearchaic

   Needy or poor; lacking the basic things needed to live.

   Grammar: Now rare; used mainly in older literature.

   Patterns

   • the needful poor

   The charity was founded to help the needful families in the parish.

   In Victorian novels, the needful are often portrayed with sympathy.

Common combinations

do the needful

Please do the needful and send the documents by Friday.

the needful steps

The government took the needful steps to prevent further damage.

needful action

The manager promised to take needful action immediately.

Synonyms and how they differ

necessary

The standard modern word; 'needful' is largely restricted to the phrase 'do the needful' or to old-fashioned writing.

required

Often used for things demanded by rules or circumstances; 'needful' is more general and dated.

essential

Stronger than 'needful', suggesting something absolutely indispensable.

Opposites

Word family

need verb

To require something because it is important.

needfully adverb

In a needful manner; rare.

needfulness noun

The state of being necessary; rare.

Commonly confused: needful or needy? needful or needle?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “needful”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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