Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - need

(needs, needing, needed) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: 'Need' sometimes behaves like an ordinary verb, for example ‘She needs to know’ and ‘She doesn’t need to know’ and sometimes like a modal, for example ‘She need know’, ‘She needn’t know’, or, in more formal English, ‘She need not know.’ 1. If you need something, or need to do something, you cannot successfully achieve what you want or live properly without it. He desperately needed money... I need to make a phone call... I need you to do something for me... I need you here, Wally... I need you sane and sober. VERB: no cont, V n, V to-inf, V n to-inf, V n adv/prep, V n adj • Need is also a noun. Charles has never felt the need to compete with anyone. ...the child who never had his need for attention and importance satisfied. ...the special nutritional needs of the elderly. N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N to-inf, N for n 2. If an object or place needs something doing to it, that action should be done to improve the object or place. If a task needs doing, it should be done to improve a particular situation. The building needs quite a few repairs. ...a garden that needs tidying... The taste of vitamins is not too nice so the flavour sometimes needs to be disguised. VERB: no cont, V n/-ing, V n/-ing, V to-inf 3. If there is a need for something, that thing would improve a situation or something cannot happen without it. Mr Forrest believes there is a need for other similar schools throughout Britain... ‘I think we should see a specialist.’—‘I don’t think there’s any need for that.’... There’s no need for you to stay. N-SING: usu with supp, oft N for n, N to-inf 4. If you say that someone needn’t do something, you are telling them not to do it, or advising or suggesting that they should not do it. Look, you needn’t shout... She need not know I’m here. MODAL: with neg • Need is also a verb. Come along, Mother, we don’t need to take up any more of Mr Kemp’s time. VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf 5. If you tell someone that they needn’t do something, or that something needn’t happen, you are telling them that that thing is not necessary, in order to make them feel better. You needn’t worry... Buying budget-priced furniture needn’t mean compromising on quality or style... Loneliness can be horrible, but it need not remain that way... MODAL: with brd-neg • Need is also a verb. He replied, with a reassuring smile, ‘Oh, you don’t need to worry about them.’... You don’t need to be a millionaire to consider having a bank account in Switzerland. VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf, V to-inf 6. You use needn’t when you are giving someone permission not to do something. You needn’t come again, if you don’t want to... MODAL: with neg • Need is also a verb. You don’t need to wait for me... VERB: no cont, V to-inf 7. If something need not be true, it is not necessarily true or not always true. (FORMAL) What is right for us need not be right for others... Freedom need not mean independence. MODAL: with neg 8. If someone needn’t have done something, it was not necessary or useful for them to do it, although they did it. I was a little nervous when I announced my engagement to Grace, but I needn’t have worried... We spent a hell of a lot of money that we needn’t have spent. MODAL: with neg • If someone didn’t need to do something, they needn’t have done it. You didn’t need to give me any more money you know, but thank you. VERB: no cont, with neg, V to-inf 9. You use need in expressions such as I need hardly say and I needn’t add to emphasize that the person you are talking to already knows what you are going to say. I needn’t add that if you fail to do as I ask, you will suffer the consequences. MODAL: oft with brd-neg c darkgreen]emphasis • Need is also a verb. I hardly need to say that I have never lost contact with him. VERB: no cont, V to-inf 10. You can use need in expressions such as ‘Need I say more’ and ‘Need I go on’ when you want to avoid stating an obvious consequence of something you have just said. Mid-fifties, short black hair, grey moustache, distinctive Russian accent. Need I go on? MODAL 11. People in need do not have enough of essential things such as money, food, or good health. The education authorities have to provide for children in need... Remember that when both of you were in need, I was the one who loaned you money. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR 12. If you are in need of something, you need it or ought to have it. I was all right but in need of rest... He was badly in need of a shave... The house was in need of modernisation when they bought it. PHRASE: PHR n 13. If you say that you will do something, especially an extreme action, if need be, you mean that you will do if it is necessary. In British English, you can also say if needs be. They will now seek permission to take their case to the House of Lords, and, if need be, to the European Court of Human Rights. PHRASE: PHR with cl 14. You can tell someone that there’s no need for them to do something as a way of telling them not to do it or of telling them to stop doing it, for example because it is unnecessary. (SPOKEN) There’s no need to call a doctor... ‘I’m going to come with you.’—‘Now look, Sue, there’s no need.’ PHRASE: oft PHR to-inf, PHR for n 15. You can say ‘Who needs something?’ as a way of emphasizing that you think that this thing is unnecessary or not useful. (INFORMAL) With apologies to my old history teacher, who needs history lessons?... Cigarettes, who needs them? PHRASE: PHR n