necessary
NEHS-uh-sree
Necessary (adj) means Required or essential in order to achieve something or avoid a problem. Example: “A passport is necessary if you want to travel abroad.”
adj
1
Required or essential in order to achieve something or avoid a problem.
"A passport is necessary if you want to travel abroad."
"Water is necessary for all forms of life."
"It may be necessary to reschedule the meeting."
noun
1
Informal: whatever is required to get something done (often "do the necessary").
"Don't worry about the paperwork, my assistant will do the necessary."
"If the sink is blocked, can you please do the necessary?"
"Leave it with me, I'll do the necessary."
How to use necessary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNeeded — something that has to happen or exist for something else to work.
Common pairings
necessary evil
absolutely necessary
necessary steps
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Word forms
- Plural
- necessaries, necessarys
- Comparative
- necessarier, more necessary
- Superlative
- necessariest, most necessary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A passport is _____ if you want to travel abroad.
Etymology
From Old French necessaire, from Latin necessārius ("unavoidable, required"), related to cēdere ("to yield" or "withdraw") — the same root found in "cede."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for necessary
See all rhymes for necessary →Frequently asked questions
What does “necessary” mean?
The word “necessary” means required or essential in order to achieve something or avoid a problem. In plain terms, needed — something that has to happen or exist for something else to work.
How do you pronounce “necessary”?
“Necessary” is pronounced NEHS-uh-sree (/ˈnɛs.əˌsɛ.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “necessary” in a sentence?
Here is “necessary” used in a sentence: “Water is necessary for all forms of life.”
What part of speech is “necessary”?
Depending on how it is used, “necessary” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “necessary” come from?
The word “necessary” comes from Latin. From Old French necessaire, from Latin necessārius ("unavoidable, required"), related to cēdere ("to yield" or "withdraw") — the same root found in "cede.".
Is “necessary” a common word?
“Necessary” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “necessary” have?
“Necessary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: required or essential in order to achieve something or avoid a problem.
What is the difference between necessary and sufficient?
A necessary condition must be present for something to happen, but may not be enough on its own. A sufficient condition guarantees it. Fuel is necessary for a fire, yet not sufficient — you also need heat and oxygen. Something can be necessary without being sufficient, and the two are often confused in reasoning.
Is 'necessary' the same as 'essential'?
They are very close, and often interchangeable. 'Essential' tends to feel stronger, pointing to something fundamental or built into the nature of a thing. 'Necessary' stresses that something is required to reach a goal or avoid a problem. Water is essential to life and necessary for the journey — both mean you cannot do without it.
What is the opposite of necessary?
The clearest opposites are 'unnecessary' and 'optional', describing things you can manage without. 'Needless' works too, often with a hint that something is pointlessly added. Where necessary means required, its opposites mark what is dispensable — nice to have, perhaps, but not essential to the outcome.
What is an example of something necessary?
Food, water, and sleep are necessary for survival — without them the body fails. A passport is necessary for international travel; practice is necessary to master an instrument. In each case the thing is required to reach a goal or avoid a problem, which is exactly what makes it necessary rather than optional.
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