First Known Use: 14th century
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
See necessary defined for English-language learners
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Examples of NECESSARY
- 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
- From the very outset the eminence of this new creature, the intellectual, … was inseparable from his necessary indignation. —Tom Wolfe, Harper's, June 2000
- Our most cataclysmic moments are typically free of gravitas, of necessary thunder; a person dies, but instead of the sky darkening and lightning striking, the sun continues to shine and the birds to sing. —Alain de Botton, Harper's, October 1998
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Origin of NECESSARY
Middle English necessarie, from Latin necessarius, from necesse necessary, probably from ne- not + cedere to withdraw — more at no
Related to NECESSARY
- Synonyms
- compulsory, forced, imperative, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required
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
See necessary defined for English-language learners
Examples of NECESSARY
- “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
- I took up the two officers in my hands, put them first into my coat-pockets, and then into every other pocket about me, except my two fobs, and another secret pocket I had no mind should be searched, wherein I had some little necessaries that were of no consequence to any but myself. —Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travels, 1726
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Origin of NECESSARY
(see 1necessary)
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to NECESSARY
- Synonyms
- condition, demand, must, must-have, essential, necessity, need, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non
- Antonyms
- nonessential, nonnecessity
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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