definitely needs

USAGE SUMMARY

"definitely needs" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express certainty and emphasize the need for something. Example sentence: The roof of the building definitely needs to be repaired.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But "it definitely needs pillows".

The New York Times - Style

This definitely needs to change..

The Guardian

"Britain definitely needs more Mrs Bs.

Independent

The world definitely needs more focused thinking.

The New York Times

"I think that definitely needs to change.

Independent

The snow globe definitely needs shaking.

The New York Times - Arts

Yahoo's current board definitely needs new blood".

The New York Times

It definitely needs to be investigated".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The present law definitely needs changing.

The Guardian

The college sports myth machine definitely needs a new gear.

The New York Times

The board definitely needs to make a change.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "definitely needs" to express a strong conviction about the necessity of something. It adds emphasis and clarity to your statement.

Common error

While "definitely needs" is a strong phrase, avoid overusing it in a single piece of writing. Vary your language with synonyms to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "definitely needs" functions as an emphatic expression of necessity. It modifies a verb, underscoring the crucial requirement for a particular action or condition. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

12%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "definitely needs" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a strong necessity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, consider the formality of your writing; more formal options like "certainly requires" may be preferable in professional or academic settings. Use "definitely needs" to add emphasis, but avoid overuse. Overall, it’s a reliable way to convey that something is urgently or unquestionably required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

certainly requires

Replaces "definitely" with "certainly", maintaining a similar level of assurance, and "needs" with "requires", which is a more formal synonym.

unquestionably requires

Uses "unquestionably" to reinforce the certainty and "requires" instead of "needs".

undeniably requires

Similar to 'unquestionably requires', this phrase emphasizes the obvious and irrefutable nature of the requirement.

critically needs

Emphasizes the critical importance of the need, suggesting potential negative consequences if unmet.

vitally requires

Similar to 'critically needs', this phrase underscores the essential nature of the requirement for survival or success.

absolutely must have

Emphasizes the necessity with "absolutely" and replaces "needs" with "must have", highlighting essential possession.

clearly necessitates

Substitutes "definitely" with "clearly" and "needs" with "necessitates", making the requirement evident.

urgently requires

Highlights the urgency of the need, focusing on the time-sensitive aspect of the requirement.

positively demands

This alternative uses "positively" to enhance the certainty and "demands" to suggest a firm requirement.

imperatively demands

Uses "imperatively" to highlight urgency and "demands" to convey a strong need.

FAQs

How can I use "definitely needs" in a sentence?

You can use "definitely needs" to emphasize the necessity of something. For example, "This project "definitely needs" more funding".

What are some alternatives to "definitely needs"?

Alternatives include phrases like "certainly requires", "absolutely must have", or "unquestionably requires".

Is "definitely needs" too informal for professional writing?

While "definitely needs" is generally acceptable, consider using a more formal alternative like "certainly requires" in highly formal contexts.

Which is correct, "definitely needs" or "needs definitely"?

"Definitely needs" is the correct and more common word order. "Needs definitely" is grammatically incorrect.