in grave need of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in grave need of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong necessity or urgency for something. Example: "The community is in grave need of assistance following the natural disaster."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"I have tasked officials to urgently establish what more we can do to provide help to those affected, including those in grave need of food, water and shelter in the Sinjar area," he said.

Independent

He denies any wrongdoing, and ever since, the political debate of Italy – a country in grave need of concerted action to lift it out of its longest postwar recession – has been dominated by the saga.

The Guardian

The Church is therefore in grave need of a better dictionary to replace the shoddy one it is currently employing, in which many of its definitions are either out of date or simply wrong.

Independent

But I think it's our policy that's in grave need of rehabilitation.

Huffington Post

By donating her pulmonary arties, she saved the life of a child in grave need of a transplant.

Huffington Post

She noted that more than 60percentt of Yemen's population — nearly 16 million people — "are in grave need of humanitarian assistance".

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If you are in graver need of losing weight or lowering your calories, your doctor may put you on special diet involving even fewer calories, but you should not put yourself on such a diet without approval from your doctor.

WikiHow

"Chinese politics is in grave need for democracy and openness," he wrote on Weibo.

BBC

In contrast, with the exception of our own conference abstract [ 25], the research literature contains little discussion of systems (or system extensions) that specifically address the cradle-to-grave needs of ancillary studies.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

They will be you most ardent supports in the time of grave need.

WikiHow

There is a grave need for a campaign against violence: a unified movement of people who want to create real change in Chester.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in grave need of", ensure the context reflects a genuinely serious or critical situation to maintain the phrase's intended impact. Avoid using it for trivial matters.

Common error

Avoid using "in grave need of" in situations that are not genuinely serious. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing seem melodramatic or exaggerated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in grave need of" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It indicates a state of urgency or critical requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing, conveying a strong necessity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in grave need of" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to convey a critical or urgent requirement. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and appropriateness. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, suggesting a relatively formal register. When writing, remember that this phrase is most effective when describing genuinely serious situations. Alternative phrases such as "in dire need of" or "in urgent need of" offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gravely in need of

This alternative uses a similar tone and intensity to the original phrase.

in dire need of

This alternative emphasizes a desperate or urgent need.

in urgent need of

This alternative highlights the time-sensitive nature of the need.

in critical need of

This alternative stresses the importance and potential severity if the need is not met.

in desperate need of

This alternative conveys a sense of hopelessness or extreme urgency.

acutely in need of

This alternative suggests a sharp and immediate requirement.

badly in need of

This alternative conveys a strong sense of lacking something important.

severely in need of

This alternative emphasizes the intensity of the need.

urgently requiring

This alternative changes the structure to emphasize the action of requiring, indicating immediate attention.

facing an acute shortage of

This alternative focuses on the lack of something, implying a strong need.

FAQs

What does "in grave need of" mean?

The phrase "in grave need of" means that someone or something has a very serious or urgent requirement for something, implying that the situation is critical.

What can I say instead of "in grave need of"?

You can use alternatives like "in dire need of", "in urgent need of", or "in critical need of" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

How formal is the phrase "in grave need of"?

The phrase "in grave need of" is relatively formal and often used in serious or professional contexts such as news reports or official statements. For less formal situations, you might consider alternatives like "really needs" or "urgently requires".

Is it correct to say "in graver need of"?

While "in grave need of" is the more common and generally preferred phrasing, "in graver need of" is grammatically correct when comparing the level of need between two subjects or situations. For example, "This patient is in "graver need" of medical attention than the other".