adv
Very common
needs
needz
Needs (adv) means of necessity (usually paired with "must," as in "must needs"). Example: “If she needs must leave early, so be it.”
adv
1
Of necessity (usually paired with "must," as in "must needs").
"If she needs must leave early, so be it."
"The old king said that he must needs travel before winter came."
"If you must needs complain, please do it quietly."
How to use needs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of saying "necessarily," almost always seen in the phrase "must needs."
When to use it
Archaic; found mostly in older literature, not modern speech.
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Word forms
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If she _____ must leave early, so be it.
Etymology
From Old English nēdes ("of necessity"), an old adverbial form of "need."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for needs
See all rhymes for needs →Frequently asked questions
What does “needs” mean?
The word “needs” means of necessity (usually paired with "must," as in "must needs"). In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of saying "necessarily," almost always seen in the phrase "must needs.".
How do you pronounce “needs”?
“Needs” is pronounced needz (/nidz/ in IPA).
How do you use “needs” in a sentence?
Here is “needs” used in a sentence: “If she needs must leave early, so be it.”
What part of speech is “needs”?
“Needs” is an adverb.
Where does the word “needs” come from?
The word “needs” comes from Old English. From Old English nēdes ("of necessity"), an old adverbial form of "need.".
Is “needs” a common word?
“Needs” is a very common word in modern English.
What does 'must needs' mean?
'Must needs' is an old emphatic expression meaning that something must happen of necessity, that it cannot be avoided. In it, 'needs' is an adverb meaning 'necessarily.' For example, 'he must needs go' means 'he has no choice but to go.' The phrase now sounds archaic or literary.
Is 'needs' as an adverb still used today?
Rarely. As an adverb meaning 'of necessity,' 'needs' survives almost only in the fixed, old-fashioned phrase 'must needs.' In everyday modern English we say 'necessarily' or 'of necessity' instead. You are most likely to meet the adverb in older literature, Shakespeare, or the King James Bible.
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