Needed

ˈniːdɪd

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To require something; to have a necessity or want for something.

ˈniːdɪd

verbneutralBeginner
General

To require something as essential or necessary.

The garden needed weeding.

💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite toy broke. You'd *need* it fixed, right? That means you really, really want it back because it's important to you. You need something when it's super important or necessary.

👶 For kids: When you *need* something, it means you really, really want or have to have it! Like, you need food when you're hungry.

More Examples

2

The students needed to study for the test.

3

I needed a new phone.

How It's Used

General

"The plants needed water."

Business

"The company needed to restructure."

2

Required or wanted; necessary.

ˈniːdɪd

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Required or essential; wanted.

The needed documents were filed.

💡 Simply: Think of the things you *needed* to pack for a trip, like your toothbrush and comfy shoes. Things that are important to have or take are needed.

👶 For kids: Something that you *needed* is something you must have or that you have to use.

More Examples

2

She had the needed skills for the job.

3

The needed repairs were completed.

How It's Used

Business

"The needed resources were not available."

General

"The needed information was provided."

Tip:Picture something essential. The thing you NEED is the NEEDED thing.

From Middle English *nēden*, from Old English *nēodian* ('to be necessary, be in need of'), from Proto-Germanic *nēðjaną* ('to need, require').

The word 'needed' has been used in similar contexts since the Old English period, denoting necessity or want.

Memory tip

Think of the things you require to live – food, water, shelter. You NEED these.

Word Origin

LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning

"to be in need of"

needed resourcesneeded informationneeded repairsneeded to do somethingneeded a break

Common misspellings

neadedneedded

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written