to necessitate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to necessitate" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means "to make something necessary or essential." Example: The budget cuts necessitated the elimination of several programs. In this sentence, "necessitated" is the past tense form of "to necessitate" and it shows that the budget cuts made it necessary to eliminate programs.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most likely to: Necessitate instant replays.

The Guardian - Music

We weren't doing anything to necessitate its closure.

The Guardian

Not that it much mattered, as the island presented no slopes to necessitate a downshift.

The New York Times

I think all of that will continue to necessitate individual ownership of vehicles.

The New York Times

Perhaps it's because fairytales tend to necessitate a transcendence of some inherent weakness or injustice.

The Guardian - Sport

"The intention to play in the mobile market is going to necessitate that investment".

The Guardian - Business

Protests by unhappy villagers are going to necessitate a muddy and pothole-ridden detour.

The Economist

His own story is by now too familiar to necessitate more than a thumbnail account here.

The New York Times - Arts

Deer crowd on city fringes, with numbers high enough in Richmond Park to necessitate a twice-yearly cull.

The Guardian

How many seats in a coffee shop does it take to necessitate provision of a customer loo?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Exiled from Hungary almost 60 years earlier and domiciled thereafter in the United States, his accent was still thick enough to necessitate subtitles.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to necessitate" when you want to convey that a particular action or situation is unavoidable or indispensable as a direct result of another factor. For clarity, ensure the relationship between the cause and the necessitated outcome is clear.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "to necessitate" can sound overly formal or complex in everyday conversation or informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to need" or "to require" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to necessitate" functions as a causative verb phrase. It indicates that one action or event makes another action or event necessary or unavoidable. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to necessitate" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that means to make something necessary. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s appropriate for formal contexts like academic papers, news reports, and business communications. While it can sound overly formal in casual conversations, it effectively emphasizes the unavoidable nature of a consequence. Consider alternatives like "to require" or "to call for" in informal settings. "To necessitate" is most commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business sources, highlighting its role in conveying cause-and-effect relationships with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to require

More common and less formal than "to necessitate".

to call for

Suggests a need or demand, often for action or attention.

to demand

Implies a strong need or requirement.

to make essential

Directly conveys the meaning of making something indispensable.

to give rise to

Focuses on the cause-and-effect relationship, suggesting that something leads to a necessity.

to make unavoidable

Emphasizes the lack of alternatives or the certainty of the outcome.

to leave no option but

Highlights the constraint or limitation of choices.

to be a prerequisite for

Indicates that something is a necessary condition for something else.

to be indispensable for

Stresses that something is absolutely essential and cannot be done without.

to point to the need for

Suggests that something indicates or highlights a specific requirement.

FAQs

How do I use "to necessitate" in a sentence?

The phrase "to necessitate" means to make something necessary. For example: 'The increased demand for electricity is going "to necessitate" building new power plants.'

What are some alternatives to "to necessitate"?

Some alternatives to "to necessitate" include "to require", "to call for", "to demand", or "to make essential". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "to necessitate" in writing?

"To necessitate" is appropriate in formal writing, academic papers, or professional communication where you want to emphasize the unavoidable nature of a consequence or action. It adds a tone of authority and precision.

Is there a difference between "to necessitate" and "to require"?

While both indicate a need, "to necessitate" implies a stronger, more unavoidable need than "to require". "To necessitate" suggests that something must happen as a direct result, whereas "to require" simply means something is needed or expected.