nec·es·sary
ˈne-sə-ˌser-ē 
1
: absolutely needed : required
Food is necessary for life.
2
a
: of an inevitable nature : inescapable
Death is a necessary feature of the human condition.
b(1)
: logically unavoidable
a necessary conclusion
(2)
: that cannot be denied without contradiction
c
: determined or produced by the previous condition of things
the necessary outcome of the affair
d
: compulsory
Taking the oath of obedience is necessary.
Synonyms
Examples of necessary in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Is it really necessary for me to have surgery?
The threat of a thunderstorm made it necessary to cancel the picnic.
It's not necessary to wear a tie.
Food is necessary for life.
We had all the necessary ingredients.
She took the medicine only when absolutely necessary.
Higher prices are a necessary consequence of the company's new services.
Noun
"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
a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life
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
Is it really necessary for me to have surgery?
The threat of a thunderstorm made it necessary to cancel the picnic.
It's not necessary to wear a tie.
Food is necessary for life.
We had all the necessary ingredients.
She took the medicine only when absolutely necessary.
Higher prices are a necessary consequence of the company's new services.
Noun
"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
a modest income that provided the family with only the necessaries of life
Recent Examples on the WebDan Lamothe, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu insisted in a CNN interview last month that his country’s policy was to let as much humanitarian aid into Gaza as is necessary, a claim that’s been widely disputed.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Even prosecutors, though, agreed time behind bars was not necessary.
—Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Missouri Department of Corrections via AP, File Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
As Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, explains it, brushing distributes sebum that is necessary for maintaining our scalp’s pH balance and keeping strands moisturized.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Renewal rituals were necessary to restore balance and set him back on his proper course.
—Kimberly H. Breuer, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Registration is not necessary if attending in person.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Everything is spread out, meaning a car is necessary to explore.
—Sophie Yun Mancini, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 19 Apr. 2023
Tramontana trotted downstairs, grabbed the necessaries and made the carbonara — but the experience lingered.
—Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Oct. 2019
Everyday necessaries such as Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco have missed time, too.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 13 June 2019
The large, refrigerated trailer has fruits, veggies and meat — the necessaries that make up a balanced diet.
—Ben Brazil, latimes.com, 10 May 2018
Across the way, a 10-year-old mucks out a stall, taking on all the necessaries in caring for her calf.
—Sharon Hoffmann
and Dan Kelly, kansascity, 13 July 2017
Adjective
While some officials said that remains the expectation, that timeline may no longer be necessary if other means of aid delivery become available, the defense official said.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Netanyahu insisted in a CNN interview last month that his country’s policy was to let as much humanitarian aid into Gaza as is necessary, a claim that’s been widely disputed.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Even prosecutors, though, agreed time behind bars was not necessary.
—Larry Neumeister, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
Missouri Department of Corrections via AP, File Medication would be inadequate and if the procedure is necessary, Dorsey should receive a local anesthetic, said Megan Crane, another attorney for him.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
As Bridgette Hill, a certified trichologist, explains it, brushing distributes sebum that is necessary for maintaining our scalp’s pH balance and keeping strands moisturized.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Renewal rituals were necessary to restore balance and set him back on his proper course.
—Kimberly H. Breuer, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Registration is not necessary if attending in person.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Everything is spread out, meaning a car is necessary to explore.
—Sophie Yun Mancini, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
Blakely has been charged with capital murder, while Washington is charged with child deprivation of necessaries with substantial harm.
—Warren Kulo | Wkulo@al.com, al, 19 Apr. 2023
Tramontana trotted downstairs, grabbed the necessaries and made the carbonara — but the experience lingered.
—Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Oct. 2019
Everyday necessaries such as Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco have missed time, too.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 13 June 2019
The large, refrigerated trailer has fruits, veggies and meat — the necessaries that make up a balanced diet.
—Ben Brazil, latimes.com, 10 May 2018
Across the way, a 10-year-old mucks out a stall, taking on all the necessaries in caring for her calf.
—Sharon Hoffmann
and Dan Kelly, kansascity, 13 July 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'necessary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to necessary
Dictionary Entries Near necessary
Cite this Entry
“Necessary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necessary. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
necessary
1 of 2 adjective
nec·es·sary
ˈnes-ə-ˌser-ē
1
: going to happen with no way of preventing it : inescapable
tests are a necessary part of school
2
: being the only logically possible result
a necessary conclusion
3
: being required : mandatory
it is necessary to attend all practices
4
: absolutely needed : essential
food is necessary for life
necessarily
adverb
ˌnes-ə-ˈser-ə-lē
necessary
2 of 2 noun
plural necessaries
: something necessary : requirement
the necessaries of life
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