adj

needful

NEEDFL

Needful (adj) means Necessary or required. Example: “Take whatever action is needful to fix the problem.”

adj

Necessary or required.

"Take whatever action is needful to fix the problem."

noun

Informal: whatever is required, especially money (usually "the needful").

"I'll take care of the needful before the deadline."

How to use needful

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNecessary — an older or more formal way of saying "needed."

When to use it

Fairly old-fashioned in modern English; "necessary" or "needed" are more common today.

more needful comparative, needfuls plural, most needful superlative

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Take whatever action is _____ to fix the problem.

From Old English nēodful, from need + -ful.

Origin: Old English

What does “needful” mean?

The word “needful” means necessary or required. In plain terms, necessary — an older or more formal way of saying "needed.".

How do you pronounce “needful”?

“Needful” is pronounced NEEDFL (/ˈniːdfl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “needful” in a sentence?

Here is “needful” used in a sentence: “Take whatever action is needful to fix the problem.”

What part of speech is “needful”?

Depending on how it is used, “needful” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “needful” come from?

The word “needful” comes from Old English. From Old English nēodful, from need + -ful.

How many meanings does “needful” have?

“Needful” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: necessary or required.