necessaryadjective
uk/ˈnes.ə.ser.i/us/ˈnes.ə.ser.i/B1 needed in order to achieve a particular result:
He lacks the necessary skills for the job.
I don't have much time so I won't be staying any longer than necessary.
Just do what's necessary and then leave.
If necessary, we can always change the dates of our trip.
Is it necessary for all of us to be present at the meeting this afternoon?
We don't want to take any more luggage with us than is strictly necessary.
used in negatives and questions to show that you disapprove of something and do not think it should be used or done:
I don't think that kind of language is necessary in a show that kids could be watching.
Was it really necessary for you to say that?
More examples
- If you're going into teaching, energy is a necessary commodity.
- Some alterations to our original plans might be necessary.
- We shall do everything necessary to bring the murderer to justice.
- We can always go back to the original plan if necessary.
- No purchase is necessary for you to enter this competition.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Essential or necessary
- a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do idiom
- basically
- basis
- be a question of doing sth idiom
- business-critical
- dependence
- if/when push comes to shove idiom
- imply
- incumbent
- indispensable
- inherent
- integral
- needed
- needful
- occasion
- on a need-to-know basis idiom
- owe
- owe it to yourself idiom
- underlying
- warrant
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