out of necessity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of necessity" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to express that something becomes necessary due to a specific set of circumstances. For example, you might say, "We had to move the meeting date out of necessity, due to an unexpected conflict."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Many leaped out of necessity.

Forbes

"The video came out of necessity," Patel says.

BBC

It was out of necessity.

The New Yorker

Out of necessity, improvement.

The Washington Post

The enemy is adapting out of necessity.

The New York Times

They did this season, out of necessity.

The New York Times - Sports

It might be out of necessity.

The New York Times - Sports

They were tiny out of necessity.

The New York Times

That is largely out of necessity.

The New York Times

It was born out of necessity.

The Guardian - Music

But it's something out of necessity.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of necessity" to clearly indicate that an action was not a choice but a requirement dictated by circumstances. This adds clarity and justification to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "out of necessity" when a genuine choice exists. This phrase should only be used when the action was unavoidable, not simply the most convenient option.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of necessity" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or condition for an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses that something becomes necessary due to specific circumstances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of necessity" is a versatile adverbial phrase that signifies an action taken due to unavoidable circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it's frequently used in news and academic writing to justify actions or explain situations. While alternatives like "of necessity" or "due to circumstances" exist, "out of necessity" offers a clear and direct way to convey the lack of choice in a given situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

of necessity

A shorter and slightly more formal equivalent.

when there's no alternative

Directly points to the lack of other options leading to the action.

from sheer need

Emphasizes the intensity of the requirement prompting the action.

due to circumstances

Focuses on the causal relationship imposed by particular conditions.

forced by events

Indicates that external occurrences are dictating the action.

by requirement

A slightly more formal way to state that something is done because it's required.

as a last resort

Emphasizes that the action is taken when all other options have been exhausted.

under compulsion

Highlights the element of being forced or obliged to act.

under pressure

Implies that external forces are compelling the action.

as a matter of urgency

Highlights the time-sensitive aspect of the situation necessitating action.

FAQs

How can I use "out of necessity" in a sentence?

Use "out of necessity" to explain that an action was taken because there was no other choice. For example, "The company pivoted to online sales "out of necessity" during the pandemic".

What's a more formal way to say "out of necessity"?

A more formal alternative to "out of necessity" is "of necessity". Both phrases indicate that something is done because it is essential or unavoidable.

What are some situations where I might act "out of necessity"?

Situations where you might act "out of necessity" include making emergency repairs to your home to prevent further damage, taking on a second job to cover essential expenses, or adapting your business strategy to survive a market downturn.

Is "out of necessity" interchangeable with "by choice"?

No, "out of necessity" and "by choice" are antonyms. "Out of necessity" means there was no alternative, while "by choice" means the action was a deliberate decision.