# needs

> English word · Adverb · IPA /niːdz/ · frequency rank #422

## Definitions
1. Either directly or indirectly preceded or followed by an auxiliary verb, often must: of necessity or need; necessarily, indispensably.

## Etymology
From Middle English nedes (“of necessity, necessarily; inevitably, unavoidably”) [and other forms], from Old English nēdes, nīedes (“of necessity; not willingly”), from nīed + -es (suffix forming adverbs from nouns).
The English word is equivalent to need + -'s (possessive marker) and hence to need + -s (suffix forming adverbs).

## Easily confused with
- **NES** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nes)
- **news** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-news)
- **nets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nets)
- **nerd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nerd)
- **nods** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nods)
- **NEET** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-neet)
- **nexus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nexus)
- **needy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-needy)
- **NERDS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nerds)
- **nerdy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nerdy)
- **Nevis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needs-vs-nevis)
- **ned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ned-vs-needs)
- **nee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nee-vs-needs)
- **need** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/need-vs-needs)
- **nears** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nears-vs-needs)
- **needed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needed-vs-needs)
- **needle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needle-vs-needs)
- **needles** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/needles-vs-needs)

## Common misspellings (7)
`eneds`, `nedes`, `neds`, `needds`, `needss`, `neesd`, `nneeds`

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