necessity
gb/nəsˈɛsɪti/ us/nəsˈɛsɪti/
B1
Inglês
~ 9400
Aceções
0 aceções
Nome
B1
entity
1
thing that is needed
Something you must have or must do in a situation.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is a necessity for [someone/something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun "necessity" with the adjective "necessary" and say *"it is a necessity to"* when they want an adjective (e.g., *"it is necessary to"*). Also, the preposition is often "a necessity for [something]" or "a necessity for [someone]", not *"a necessity to"* in this sense.
Sinónimos
essential (Sounds slightly more formal; can be noun or adjective, often stresses importance more than lack of choice.)
|
must (Informal noun; often used for fashionable or highly recommended things, not always strictly required.)
|
requirement (Emphasizes a rule or condition that must be met, especially in official or formal contexts.)
Antónimos
luxury (Something nice to have but not needed; contrasts with things that are truly necessary.)
|
nonessential (More formal; directly states that something is not needed.)
Colocações
basic necessity
|an absolute necessity
|a necessity for [something]
|consider [something] a necessity
|daily necessity
|modern necessity
Temas
daily life
|economy
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Exemplos
- For many people, a smartphone has become a necessity.
- In this climate, air conditioning is not a luxury but a necessity.
- Good walking shoes are a necessity if you plan to hike all day.
- Reliable internet access is now a business necessity.
- Childcare is a necessity for many working parents.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Clean water is a necessity for everyone.
- In winter, a warm coat is a necessity.
- For this job, English is a necessity.
- Glasses are a necessity for me when I drive.
- In the city, a car is not always a necessity.
Nome
B1
entity
2
basic things needed to live
The simple things people need for life, like food, water, clothes, and a home.
Padrão de uso:
the necessities of [life/everyday living]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes use "necessities of life" when they mean general comforts or hobbies. This phrase usually refers to very basic needs like food, water, and shelter, not entertainment or travel.
Sinónimos
basics (Informal; focuses on the simplest, minimum things needed, not necessarily for survival only.)
|
essentials (Very close in meaning; often used in the plural for key everyday items.)
Antónimos
luxuries (Things that are pleasant but not needed for a simple, decent life.)
Colocações
basic necessities
|the bare necessities
|the necessities of life
|food and other necessities
|lack basic necessities
|provide the necessities
Temas
daily life
|poverty
|society
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Many families in the region still lack basic necessities such as clean water and electricity.
- The charity provides food, clothing, and other necessities to homeless people.
- After the storm, we focused first on the necessities of life: shelter, water, and medicine.
- Their income is so low that it barely covers the bare necessities.
- Refugees arrived with almost nothing and needed all the basic necessities.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Some people do not have the basic necessities of life.
- The government gives money to help people buy necessities.
- We packed only the bare necessities for the trip.
- The shop sells food and other daily necessities.
- They worked hard just to pay for life's necessities.
Nome
formal
B2
state
3
situation making something necessary
A situation that makes something necessary and gives you no real choice.
Padrão de uso:
the necessity of [doing something]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes say *"from necessity"* instead of the more common "out of necessity" or "by necessity" when explaining that something was done because there was no choice. Also, in formal writing, it is more natural to say "the necessity of doing something" rather than *"the necessity to do something"*.
Sinónimos
need (More general and less formal; may not always imply a lack of choice as strongly.)
|
requirement (Stresses that something is needed according to rules, conditions, or circumstances.)
|
inevitability (Emphasizes that something cannot be avoided, often in a broader or more philosophical sense.)
Antónimos
choice (Highlights that there are different possible actions, the opposite of being forced by circumstances.)
|
option (Suggests freedom to select from alternatives instead of being driven by necessity.)
Colocações
out of necessity
|by necessity
|of necessity
|the necessity of [doing something]
|economic necessity
|political necessity
Temas
abstract ideas
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Rising costs have created a necessity for the company to cut staff.
- She worked two jobs out of necessity, not because she enjoyed it.
- For many migrants, relocation is a matter of necessity rather than preference.
- The report stresses the necessity of reforming the healthcare system.
- By necessity, the country has reduced its reliance on imported energy.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- He took the night job out of necessity.
- There is a necessity to change the plan.
- For safety, there is a necessity of strong rules.
- By necessity, we ate simple food during the trip.
- The necessity of saving money became clear to them.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
necessity
IPA
GB/nəsˈɛsɪti/
US/nəsˈɛsɪti/
Sílabas e acento
ne - ces - sity (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ces)
Formas da palavra
Noun
- Base: necessity
- Plural: necessities, necessity
Família de palavras
Forms
necessities
noun
Core family
necessary
adjective A2
necessarily
adverb B1
Related words
necessitate
verb C1
Negative and opposite forms
unnecessary
adjective B1
unnecessarily
adverb
Expressões
a matter of necessity
1/ə mˈætɚ əv nəsˈɛsɪti/
fixed phrase
something that must be done
Something that must be done or had because of a strong need or situation.
Exemplos
- For many workers, taking a second job is a matter of necessity.
- In that climate, air conditioning is a matter of necessity, not comfort.
bare necessities
1/bˈɛɹ nəsˈɛsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
only the minimum needed
Only the smallest amount of things that you really need and nothing more.
Exemplos
- We had to sell our furniture and live with just the bare necessities.
- The camp provides only the bare necessities, so you should not expect comfort.
basic necessities
1/bˈeɪsɪk nəsˈɛsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
simple essential things for life
The simple things people must have to live, such as food, water, clothes, and a place to live.
Exemplos
- The charity helps families who cannot afford basic necessities.
- Some villages still lack basic necessities like clean water and electricity.
by necessity
1/bˈaɪ nəsˈɛsɪti/
fixed phrase
due to practical need
Because a situation makes it necessary, not because someone wants it.
Exemplos
- The city has, by necessity, become more efficient with its water use.
- Small businesses are, by necessity, very careful with their money.
daily necessities
1/dˈeɪli nəsˈɛsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
things people need every day
Things that people need and use every day, such as food, soap, and other household items.
Exemplos
- The small shop sells daily necessities like rice, milk, and soap.
- With prices rising, even daily necessities are becoming expensive.
life's necessities
1/lˈaɪfs nəsˈɛsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
basic needs in life
The basic things a person needs in life, like food, housing, clothes, and sometimes health care or education.
Exemplos
- They saved carefully so they could afford life's necessities in retirement.
- For some families, even life's necessities are hard to pay for.
of necessity
1/əv nəsˈɛsɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
because it must happen
Because it has to be that way and cannot be avoided.
Exemplos
- Of necessity, the report is limited to the data available.
- The discussion was, of necessity, brief and to the point.
out of necessity
1/ˈaʊt əv nəsˈɛsɪti/
fixed phrase
because there is no choice
Because you have no real choice and must do it.
Exemplos
- She started her own business out of necessity after losing her job.
- Many people work extra hours out of necessity, not because they want to.
the necessities of life
1/ðə nəsˈɛsɪtiz əv lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
basic things for living
The basic things that people need to stay alive and live in a simple way, like food, water, clothes, and a home.
Exemplos
- Many people in the area lack the necessities of life.
- Her salary is just enough to cover the necessities of life for her family.
necessity is the mother of invention
1/nəsˈɛsɪti ˈɪz ðə mˈʌðɚ əv ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
need makes people inventive
When people really need something, they find new and clever ways to get it or solve the problem.
Exemplos
- During the blackout, we cooked on a small gas stove—necessity is the mother of invention.
- When our car broke down in the desert, we used tape and rope to fix it—necessity is the mother of invention.
- He built a simple cooling system from old parts—necessity is the mother of invention.
- They built a shelter from scraps. Necessity is the mother of invention.
- During the pandemic, many businesses moved online, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.
- Many medical advances show that necessity is the mother of invention.
- He built his own heating system from old parts, saying that necessity is the mother of invention.
necessity is the mother of invention
4/nəsˈɛsɪti ˈɪz ðə mˈʌðɚ əv ɪnvˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase
need produces new ideas
people often invent things because they really need a solution to a problem
Exemplos
- When the power went out, they cooked dinner over a camping stove—necessity is the mother of invention.
- During the crisis, small businesses found creative ways to survive; necessity is the mother of invention.
- She built the tool because nothing else worked, proving that necessity is the mother of invention.