needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as either an adjective, verb, or noun. Example sentence: I needed to finish my project by the end of the week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Strong community-based leadership at a local level is needed".

The Guardian

All I know is that when I needed McDonald's, McDonald's was there for me.

The Guardian - Business

They needed coal, they needed oil, we can go on and on about oil, but if there wasn't any, what would happen?

The Guardian - Arts

He said North Korea still needed time to develop additional equipment in order to make its submarine-launched missile system fully operational.

The Guardian

It is needed.

The New York Times

"While all great things mature with age, the energy may not be in the bottle to the extent that it is needed".

The Guardian

He acknowledged that the no campaign needed to appeal to the heart as well as the head but argued the big question is what impact separation would have on family finances and whether Scottish people would be able to afford the NHS and pensions.

The Guardian

Anderson has said his review considered the safeguards to privacy, issues of transparency and oversight as well as the powers needed to meet the challenge of changing technologies.

The Guardian

The repeated refusal of GPs, social housing officers and social security staff to act as immigration officers also means that if more robust residence tests are to be introduced for other EU nationals then an easy and authoritative way is needed of checking how long they have been in the country and what their immigration status is.

The Guardian

"We have spoken about it, he is a massive England fan and, if needed, would drop everything at the drop of a hat to come and join us.

The Guardian - Sport

Giving evidence to the House of Commons' international development committee, which is looking into the future of the CDC – Britain's investment fund for developing countries – Andrew Mitchell said the corporation's fund of funds model was too narrow and needed to be expanded.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needed" as an adjective, ensure it clearly modifies the noun it precedes. For instance, "needed resources" is more effective than "resources that are needed."

Common error

Avoid consistently using "needed" in passive constructions, such as "It is needed." Opt for active voice where possible to create more direct and engaging sentences. For example, prefer "We needed assistance" over "Assistance was needed."

Linguistic Context

The word "needed" primarily functions as a past participle of the verb "need", often used in passive constructions. It can also function as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate something that is required or necessary. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "needed" functions both as a past participle and an adjective to express necessity or requirement across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that the usage of "needed" is grammatically correct and versatile. It commonly appears in news, business, and scientific domains. When writing, consider active voice to avoid passive constructions and choose synonyms like "required" or "essential" to emphasize specific nuances of necessity. Ultimately, "needed" is a versatile term to indicate something that is essential or "necessary".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

required

Indicates a more formal or obligatory necessity.

necessary

Emphasizes the indispensability of something.

essential

Highlights the crucial importance of something.

indispensable

Stresses that something is absolutely vital or irreplaceable.

requisite

Implies a formal requirement or condition.

called for

Suggests that something is appropriate or advisable in a given situation.

in demand

Highlights that something is requested by a large number of people.

wanted

Indicates a desire or wish for something.

lacked

Suggests something that was missing or required

in short supply

Implies there are not enough resources to fulfill a necessity.

FAQs

How can "needed" be used in a sentence?

"Needed" can function as the past participle of the verb "need" or as an adjective. Example: "The skills "required" for the job are specialized" (adjective); "I "wanted" to finish the project" (verb).

What are some alternatives to the word "needed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "needed" include "required", "necessary", "essential", or "indispensable".

Is it correct to say "badly needed"?

Yes, "badly needed" is a common and acceptable phrase. It emphasizes the urgency or importance of something. For example: "The hospital badly "required" more staff."

What's the difference between "needed" and "necessary"?

"Needed" is the past participle of "need" and can also act as an adjective, while "necessary" is strictly an adjective. "Necessary" often implies a higher degree of requirement than "needed". For example: "The tool "required" immediate attention", compared to "the tool was "essential" for the task".