acute need

USAGE SUMMARY

'acute need' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a certain kind of need that is urgent and pressing. For example, "There is an acute need for more medical aid in this area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hence, the acute need for co-operation.

The Guardian

What we can now deliver is care for those in acute need.

The Guardian

To make matters worse, despite the acute need the US federal funding for residential training has been frozen since 1996.

The Guardian

There is an acute need for more moderate-income housing throughout the town, not just in the Greenport area.

The New York Times

Ms. Moskowitz said yesterday that there was an acute need for teachers to be trained to identify learning disabilities.

The New York Times

"If this conference is to succeed, there is an acute need for common ground," said Mr. Annan.

The New York Times

At first glance, it seems as if acute need for food and shelter ought to win out.

The New York Times

It [Secure] was a revolutionary model that was transforming services in an area of really acute need".

The Guardian

Still, Mr. Yara said, there will be an acute need for talent.

The New York Times

For the next election, they are in acute need of popular policies implemented by the coalition that they can lay claim to.

The Guardian - Opinion

That outbreak led to significant global improvements in disease surveillance and in the recognition of the acute need for better cooperation across borders and among national health agencies.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Strengthen your writing by providing concrete details about the "acute need". Instead of stating the obvious, showcase why that need is pressing.

Common error

Avoid using "acute need" when a simpler term like "need" or "requirement" would suffice. Overusing the phrase dilutes its impact and can make your writing sound melodramatic. Always consider the urgency level of the situation before using this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "acute need" is to act as a noun phrase where the adjective "acute" modifies the noun "need", emphasizing the urgency or severity of the need. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage, showcasing its descriptive ability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acute need" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a pressing and urgent requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business. While versatile, it should be reserved for situations where the need is truly critical to avoid diluting its impact. Alternatives such as "urgent requirement" or "pressing demand" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Urgent requirement

Replaces "need" with a synonym emphasizing the necessity of something.

Pressing demand

Substitutes both words to convey a sense of urgency and insistence.

Critical necessity

Emphasizes the importance and essential nature of the need.

Dire necessity

Highlights the severity and urgency of the need.

Desperate requirement

Conveys a sense of urgency and a lack of alternatives.

Immediate imperative

Uses a more formal term for need, stressing its urgency.

Vital demand

Focuses on the life-sustaining aspect of the need.

Exigent demand

More formal and emphasizes the urgency and demanding nature of the need.

Overriding necessity

Suggests the need is so important it takes precedence over everything else.

Imperative requirement

Uses slightly stronger words but keeps the core meaning.

FAQs

How to use "acute need" in a sentence?

Use "acute need" to describe a situation where there's an urgent and pressing requirement. For instance, "There is an "acute need" for clean water in the disaster-stricken area".

What can I say instead of "acute need"?

You can use alternatives like "urgent requirement", "critical necessity", or "pressing demand" depending on the context.

Is "acute need" formal or informal?

"Acute need" is generally considered suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, such as news reporting, academic papers, or business communications. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding text than the phrase itself.

What's the difference between "acute need" and "important need"?

"Acute need" implies a sense of urgency and immediacy that "important need" does not. While something that is an "important need" is significant, an "acute need" requires immediate action.