# needful

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈniːdfl̩/ · frequency rank #50,696

## Definitions
1. Needed; necessary; mandatory; requisite; indispensable.
2. Needy; in need.

## Etymology
From Middle English needeful, nedeful, from Old English nēodful (“necessary; earnest; zealous”). Equivalent to need + -ful. Cognate with Dutch noodvol, German notvoll.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/needful