needed

The word “needed” means required; necessary. In plain terms, something that is required, especially something wanted badly.

“Needed” is pronounced NEE-dihd (/ˈni.dɪd/ in IPA).

Here is “needed” used in a sentence: “The town received much-needed rain after the drought.”

“Needed” is an adjective.

“Needed” is a very common word in modern English.

Needed means required or necessary — 'the repairs are badly needed'. Needy describes a person or group lacking essentials and requiring help, or, informally, someone who demands constant attention and reassurance. So a thing is needed when it is called for, while a person is needy when they are in want. The two are often confused.

Needed can be both. As the past tense of 'need', it is a verb — 'she needed help'. As an adjective, it means required or necessary — 'a much-needed break'. When it describes a noun and can be replaced by 'necessary', it is working as an adjective. In many sentences the two uses overlap.

The opposite of needed is unneeded, unnecessary, or unwanted — something not required. Words like optional, dispensable, and superfluous also stand in contrast, describing what could be done without. Where 'needed' says something is called for, its opposites say it can safely be left out or removed.