needful
gb/nˈidfəl/ us/nˈidfəl/
C1
English
~ 26800
szükséges, szükséges teendők, szükséges lépések
C1
ARCHAIC
1
szükséges
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is needful for [purpose]
Further discussion is needful before we take a final decision.
További egyeztetés szükséges, mielőtt végleges döntést hozunk.
It may be needful to revise the policy in light of recent events.
Szükséges lehet a szabályzat felülvizsgálata a közelmúlt eseményeinek fényében.
Only the most needful changes were made to the original agreement.
Learner examples
More time is needful to finish this report.
Több időre van szükség ennek a jelentésnek a befejezéséhez.
It is needful to check all the numbers again.
Szükséges minden számot újra ellenőrizni.
Only the most needful work was done today.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "needful" instead of the common words "necessary" or "needed" (e.g., writing "It is needful" in modern emails). In most current English, "necessary" or "needed" is preferred except in certain set phrases or very formal/old-fashioned styles.
Meaning
necessary; required for something
Collocations
is needful
|make it needful
|needful for
|needful to
|all that is needful
Synonyms
necessary (The normal modern word; more common and neutral in all kinds of English.)
|
required (Stresses that something is officially or formally needed, often by rules or laws.)
Antonyms
unnecessary (States that something is not needed at all.)
|
optional (Shows that something is not required and can be chosen or left out.)
Themes
work
|communication
|formal_writing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Needed or necessary for something to be done or to happen.
Required or necessary in order for something to happen or be complete.
NOUN
C1
ARCHAIC
2
Usage pattern:
do the needful
Once the committee has done the needful, we can announce the results.
Miután a bizottság elvégezte a szükséges teendőket, kihirdethetjük az eredményeket.
Our legal team will do the needful and respond to their letter.
Jogi csapatunk megteszi a szükséges lépéseket, és válaszol a levelükre.
He trusted his assistant to do the needful in his absence.
Learner examples
Please do the needful and send the form today.
Kérlek, tedd meg a szükséges lépéseket, és küldd el az űrlapot még ma.
The manager did the needful and solved the problem.
A vezető elintézte a szükséges teendőket, és megoldotta a problémát.
Our office will do the needful after we get your email.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "the needful" is normal modern English in all countries because it appears in some formal emails, especially in South Asian English. In most other varieties of English, this sounds old-fashioned or regional; phrases like "do what is necessary" or "take the necessary steps" are more natural.
Meaning
what is needed in a situation
Collocations
do the needful
|perform the needful
|the needful was done
|all the needful
Synonyms
the necessary (Very close in meaning; also somewhat formal or old-fashioned, but still clearer to many speakers than "the needful".)
Antonyms
the unnecessary (Refers to things that do not need to be done or included, the opposite of what is required.)
Themes
communication
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The thing or things that are needed to deal with a situation, often the actions that must be done.
The thing or things that are needed in a particular situation, especially the required action or actions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
needful
IPA
GB/nˈidfəl/
US/nˈidfəl/
Syllables & stress
need - ful (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (need)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: needful
Word family
Expressions
do the needful
1/dˈu ðə nˈidfəl/
fixed phrase
formal
do whatever is necessary
To do the actions that are needed in a situation, without saying exactly what those actions are.
Examples
- Please do the needful and arrange the tickets at the earliest.
- Once you receive the documents, kindly do the needful and update our records.
- Our team will do the needful to resolve the issue as soon as possible.