needs - Glite Dictionary

Examples

She needs must leave immediately!
We needs must accept the results, whether we like them or not.
Change needs come when the situation is desperate.
If you needs go, be sure to return before dark.
He must needs go to the meeting to discuss the project.
The changes needs to happen for us to succeed.
In dire circumstances, one needs to find a solution quickly.

Synonyms

necessarily

vsneeds

∞ 3.7

In a way that cannot be avoided

is an archaic literary use paired with must to mark necessity

inevitably

vsneeds

181 4.0

You cannot avoid it

is an archaic literary construction paired with must to mean necessary

of necessity

vsneeds

Formal

17 4.6

Something happens because it cannot be avoided

is an older literary phrasing used with must to show necessity

needfully

vsneeds

7.2

In a way that is needed

is an archaic literary form used with must to express necessity

Idioms

Bah, who needs it?

Informal

9.9

A short phrase people say to show they do not care and think something is not needed

baby needs new shoes

Informal

9.9

A playful reason to buy something new

to needs a filling

4.3

Has a hole or damage in a tooth that a dentist must fix

the last thing one needs

6.6

Something you do not want at an important or difficult time

Compounds

shopping needs

1 1.0

A list of things you want or must buy

How Necessary

inevitably

181 4.0

necessarily

∞ 3.7

needs

Archaic

9.9

probably

∞ 1.0

possibly

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

needs positive

Morphology

needs = need (opaque) = need + s

The adverbial '‑s' is an archaic/idiomatic formation (not the regular plural or 3sg) so learners knowing 'need' will not reliably infer the meaning 'necessarily'.

Etymology

Needs comes from the simple word need ('something necessary') plus an old -s that gave it the sense 'by need' or 'because it is necessary'. So needs means 'necessarily' or 'must', and you often see it in older or literary English.