Meaning & use
unnecessary
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparable
Not needed; more than what is required for a purpose.
Grammar: No comparative or superlative; something is either necessary or not.
Patterns
- unnecessary for something
- unnecessary to do something
- completely unnecessary
- seem unnecessary
Please avoid making unnecessary noise after 10 p.m.
The extra meeting seemed unnecessary because we had already decided.
It is unnecessary to bring your own equipment; we provide everything.
adjectivenot comparabledisapproving
Not needed and therefore unwanted or unwelcome.
Grammar: Often used to criticize actions or remarks that cause annoyance.
Patterns
- unnecessary comment
- unnecessary risk
- unnecessary delay
His unnecessary remarks upset the whole team.
Taking that unnecessary risk could have cost them the game.
Common combinations
- completely unnecessary
- The delay was completely unnecessary.
- unnecessary expense
- We must cut unnecessary expenses this year.
- unnecessary risk
- Driving in the storm was an unnecessary risk.
- seem unnecessary
- The extra form seems unnecessary to most applicants.
- avoid unnecessary something
- Try to avoid unnecessary travel during rush hour.
Synonyms and how they differ
- needless
- Needless often suggests something could easily have been avoided, while unnecessary simply states it is not required.
- superfluous
- Superfluous is more formal and often means 'extra beyond what is enough', while unnecessary is neutral and common in everyday speech.
- redundant
- Redundant is used for things that are no longer needed because they are replaced or repeated, especially in jobs or words; unnecessary is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- necessarily adverb
- In every case; always (often in 'not necessarily').
- necessity noun
- Something that is needed.
- necessary adjective
- Needed or required.
- unnecessarily adverb
- In a way that is not needed.
Commonly confused: unnecessary or unnecessarily?
unnecessary vs unnecessarily
Unnecessarily is an adverb meaning 'in an unnecessary way', while unnecessary is the adjective: 'an unnecessary delay' vs 'delayed unnecessarily'.
Practice
It is ________ to book a table; the restaurant is never full on Mondays.
Choose one answer.
The second clause says the restaurant is not full, so booking is not needed — 'unnecessary' fits. 'Necessary' would mean the opposite, 'necessarily' is an adverb, and 'necessity' is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unnecessary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.