Dictionary

1necessary

adjective nec·es·sary \ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē\

: so important that you must do it or have it : absolutely needed

: unable to be changed or avoided

Full Definition of NECESSARY

1
:  absolutely needed :  required
2
a :  of an inevitable nature :  inescapable
b (1) :  logically unavoidable
(2) :  that cannot be denied without contradiction
c :  determined or produced by the previous condition of things
d :  compulsory
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Examples of NECESSARY

  1. Some say that Hvorostovsky's Don Giovanni lacks the necessary menace; others find that he tosses his mane about too flamboyantly. —Francine Du Plessix Gray, New Yorker, 22 Sept. 2003

Origin of NECESSARY

Middle English necessarie, from Latin necessarius, from necesse necessary, probably from ne- not + cedere to withdraw — more at no
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with NECESSARY

actuary, adversary, airy-fairy, ancillary, antiquary, apiary, arbitrary, aviary, axillary, bacillary, beriberi, bestiary, biliary, black raspberry, Bloody Mary, boysenberry, breviary, budgetary, calamari, calamary, candleberry, Canterbury, capillary, carpellary, cassowary, catenary, cautionary, cavitary, cemetery, centenary, certiorari, checkerberry, chinaberry, cometary, commentary, commissary, condottiere, coralberry, corollary, coronary, culinary, customary, dictionary, dietary, dignitary, dromedary, dysentery, elderberry, emissary, estuary, farkleberry, February, formulary, fragmentary, fritillary, functionary, funerary, honorary, huckleberry, intermarry, janissary, January, lamasery, lapidary, lectionary, legendary, legionary, lingonberry, literary, loganberry, luminary, mammillary, mandatary, maxillary, medullary, mercenary, miliary, military, millenary, milliary, millinery, missionary, momentary, monastery, mortuary, ordinary, ossuary, partridgeberry, pensionary, pigmentary, planetary, Pondicherry, prebendary, presbytery, pulmonary, quaternary, red mulberry, reliquary, rowanberry, salivary, salmonberry, salutary, sanctuary, sanguinary, sanitary, secondary, secretary, sedentary, seminary, silverberry, solitary, sour cherry, stationary, stationery, statuary, subcontrary, sublunary, sugarberry, sumptuary, syllabary, temporary, tertiary, thimbleberry, Tipperary, Tom and Jerry, topiary, tributary, tutelary, Typhoid Mary, unitary, urinary, vestiary, Virgin Mary, visionary, voluntary, vulnerary, Waterbury, whortleberry, winterberry

2necessary

noun nec·es·sary \ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē\

necessaries : things (such as food, a place to live, and clothing) that you must have : necessary things

the necessary : whatever is needed for some purpose

plural nec·es·sar·ies

Full Definition of NECESSARY

:  an indispensable item :  essential

Examples of NECESSARY

  1. I thoroughly understand you, cried Mrs. Norris, … My dear Sir Thomas, with all my faults I have a warm heart; and, poor as I am, would rather deny myself the necessaries of life than do an ungenerous thing. —Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814

Origin of NECESSARY

(see 1necessary)
First Known Use: 14th century
NECESSARY Defined for Kids

1necessary

adjective nec·es·sary \ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē\

Definition of NECESSARY for Kids

:  needing to be had or done :  essential <Food is necessary to life.> <I got the necessary work done first.>
nec·es·sar·i·ly \ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē\ adverb

2necessary

noun
plural nec·es·sar·ies

Definition of NECESSARY for Kids

:  something that is needed <We left a good stock of … medicines, and some other necessaries … — Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island>
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