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as needed

as needed

25 1.5
When it is necessary
  • idiom
translation icon : cuando sea necesario
  • The resident volunteers could obtain as many bags as needed for free.
  • provide assistance as needed
  • snacks as needed
  • make modifications as needed

They just send you as needed, I mean, as needed all over the world.

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Examples

  • The council is a free community resource and meets monthly or as needed to assist providers and the public.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The end user often needs to be confident that the seller can supply as needed, when needed.

    Academic text (1990)
  • But it was supposed to be on an as needed basis, not all day long, every day.

  • Now, we develop these assets to use them as needed.

  • Other students from across the campus also have access as needed during the semester.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The strengths of each instructor are utilized as needed in actual teaching situations.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Synthesizers are now used as needed to cover parts in the small ensembles and the band.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Instruct the student to put on the BIE equipment and provide assistance as needed.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Handicapped students are screened and assessed (as needed) prior to placement in a physical education program.

    Academic text (1992)
  • She will adjust the plan as needed, depending on the team's feedback.

Synonyms

as required
vsas needed
17 2.3

Only when needed

is a slightly more formal wording for the same idea
if need be
vsas needed
11 3.9

When it is necessary to do something

is stricter requiring action only when truly necessary
PRN
vsas needed
  • Specialized
8.4

You take medicine only when you need it

is the everyday expression used outside medical prescriptions
pro re nata
vsas needed
  • Formal
9.9

Given or done only when needed

is the common wording for the same instruction outside medicine

Antonyms

300 1.6

More than is needed or wanted

How Often

always
1.0
often
1.0
as needed
25 1.5
sometimes
1.0
rarely
539 1.0
never
1.0

Surface Forms

as needed positive

Morphology

as + needed

The meaning 'as required' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'as' (marking condition/extent) with 'needed' (necessary), producing the adverbial sense 'when necessary'. This is a regular, compositional pattern common across languages and standard English usage, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should readily understand it.

Etymology

The adverb as needed comes from simple instructions: as (meaning 'when') and needed (meaning 'required'). Imagine a recipe that says 'add salt as needed'; you add salt only when you taste it needs more, so the phrase means 'when necessary'.