necessity

UK /nɪˈsɛsəti/ US /nɪˈsɛsəti/

noun 5

Definitions

noun

The quality or state of being necessary, unavoidable, or absolutely requisite.

I bought a new table out of necessity. My old one was ruined.

Educating the public about some of the myths that underlie their fears that non-traditional families will of necessity be detrimental to the well-being of foster children.

The condition of being needy; desperate need; lack.

For it is in vain for a man to think to seek God in his necessity and exigence, if he seek not God in his ordinances, and do not joy in them.

Something necessary; a requisite; something indispensable.

A tent is a necessity if you plan on camping.

Look for the bare necessities / The simple bare necessities / Forget about your worries and your strife

Something which makes an act or an event unavoidable; an irresistible force; overruling power.

After eating a full meal, the human body's necessity for food will compel the person to eat again in the future.

I stopped, and said with inly muttered voice, 'It doth not love the shower, nor seek the cold: This neither is its courage nor its choice, But its necessity in being old.

The negation of freedom in voluntary action; the subjection of all phenomena, whether material or spiritual, to inevitable causation; necessitarianism.

Collocations

(noun.) fact that sth must happen; sth that cannot be avoided

ADJ

overwhelming, sheer

absolute

fundamental, vital

real

dire, pressing, urgent

immediate

strategic

logical, physical, practical

Clean water is a physical necessity for all human beings to survive.

commercial, economic, financial, historical, military, political, social

The government claimed that raising taxes was an economic necessity to avoid a crisis.

VERB + NECESSITY

recognize, see

The doctor recognized the necessity of starting treatment right away.

accept (sth as), be convinced of

After the accident, she became convinced of the necessity for regular safety inspections.

avoid, obviate, remove, spare

emphasize, highlight, stress

The doctor emphasized the necessity of regular exercise for managing her diabetes.

be born (out) of

The new safety rules were born out of the necessity to prevent accidents in the workplace.

NECESSITY + VERB

arise

If a health problem arises, the necessity to visit a doctor becomes clear.

demand (sth)

When necessity demanded it, the small shop stayed open late to serve the community.

force sth

Necessity forced the company to hire more staff during the busy season.

PREP

of ~

If you want to travel by car, you must, of necessity, plan your route carefully.

out of ~

She started working nights out of necessity when her husband lost his job.

through ~

She learned to cook healthy meals through sheer necessity when her budget became very tight.

without the ~ of

Modern smartphones let us access information without the necessity of carrying heavy reference books everywhere.

~ for

If you have a valid passport, there is no necessity for getting a visa to enter that country.

~ to

There is a necessity to wear a seatbelt when driving a car.

PHRASES

any/no necessity

There's no necessity to buy expensive equipment when you're just starting yoga.

(noun.) sth you must have

ADJ

absolute

vital

real

urgent

During the pandemic, finding affordable housing became an urgent necessity for many families in the city.

bare, basic

Without a job, she could only afford the basic necessities like food and shelter.

daily

VERB + NECESSITY

have

lack

PHRASES

a necessity of life

Clean water remains a necessity of life for all communities around the world.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — anything indispensable

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

necessity is the mother of invention

The primary driving force for most new inventions is a need.

necessity is the mother of innovation

Alternative form of necessity is the mother of invention.

make a virtue of necessity

To make the best of a difficult situation; to recast or portray an action or situation in which one has no alternatives as an action or situation which was deliberately chosen on its merits.

Indeed, because you are a banish'd man, Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you: Are you content to be our general? To make a virtue of necessity And live, as we do, in this wi

necessity knows no law

A person who is in great need of something will find a way to obtain it, and violate the law if needed.

"Necessity knows no law."

Example Bank

I bought a new table out of necessity. My old one was ruined.

Wiktionary

Educating the public about some of the myths that underlie their fears that non-traditional families will of necessity be detrimental to the well-being of foster children.

Wiktionary

Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic […]. Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. […] But the scandals kept coming, […].

Wiktionary

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Tatoeba · #19549

It must, of necessity, be postponed.

Tatoeba · #42131

A computer is an absolute necessity now.

Tatoeba · #54558

Usage Notes

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