necessity
thing that is needed
Something you must have or must do in a situation.
[something] is a necessity for [someone/something]
- 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.
- 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.
basic things needed to live
The simple things people need for life, like food, water, clothes, and a home.
the necessities of [life/everyday living]
- 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.
- 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.
situation making something necessary
A situation that makes something necessary and gives you no real choice.
the necessity of [doing something]
- 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.
- 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.
- Base: necessity
- Plural: necessities, necessity
a matter of necessity
1something that must be done
Something that must be done or had because of a strong need or situation.
- 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
1only the minimum needed
Only the smallest amount of things that you really need and nothing more.
- 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
1simple essential things for life
The simple things people must have to live, such as food, water, clothes, and a place to live.
- The charity helps families who cannot afford basic necessities.
- Some villages still lack basic necessities like clean water and electricity.
by necessity
1due to practical need
Because a situation makes it necessary, not because someone wants it.
- The city has, by necessity, become more efficient with its water use.
- Small businesses are, by necessity, very careful with their money.
daily necessities
1things people need every day
Things that people need and use every day, such as food, soap, and other household items.
- The small shop sells daily necessities like rice, milk, and soap.
- With prices rising, even daily necessities are becoming expensive.
life's necessities
1basic needs in life
The basic things a person needs in life, like food, housing, clothes, and sometimes health care or education.
- 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
1because it must happen
Because it has to be that way and cannot be avoided.
- Of necessity, the report is limited to the data available.
- The discussion was, of necessity, brief and to the point.
out of necessity
1because there is no choice
Because you have no real choice and must do it.
- 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
1basic 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.
- 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
1need makes people inventive
When people really need something, they find new and clever ways to get it or solve the problem.
- 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
4need produces new ideas
people often invent things because they really need a solution to a problem
- 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.