[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/needful/)

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# needful

adjective (needful — old-fashioned); noun (the needful — informal)

«needful» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (old-fashioned, formal) Needed or necessary. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#m1)
2. (informal, UK) The needful is what is needed, often money: Dad will provide the needful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#m2)
3. (Indian English) Do the needful means do what is necessary; many English speakers elsewhere find it old-fashioned. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#m3)

### In the lessons

In old books and the Bible, needful means necessary: one thing is needful. In everyday talk, it is rare; children are more likely to say needed or necessary. In emails in India and some other places, please do the needful is common. Phrases: do the needful, the needful.

### Examples

- Take only what is needful for the journey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x1)
- In the Bible, Jesus told Martha that one thing is needful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x2)
- Mum said she'd do the needful and pay for the trip. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x3)
- Please do the needful and send the form. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x4)
- Water and food are needful for life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x5)
- He packed the needful things in a small bag. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x6)
- Meanwhile, I will do what is needful here. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/#x7)

### Note

Old-fashioned; in school writing, use necessary or needed. Not the same as needy (poor or wanting attention).

## In Jewish tradition

In old books and the Bible, needful means necessary: one thing is needful. In everyday talk, it is rare; children are more likely to say needed or necessary. In emails in India and some other places, please do the needful is common. Phrases: do the needful, the needful.

### Examples

- And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure-house. (Writings EZR.7.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/needful/#x1)

### Note

Old-fashioned; in school writing, use necessary or needed. Not the same as needy (poor or wanting attention).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «needful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/needful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«needful» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/needful.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «needful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/N/needful/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«needful» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/needful.html) on Mova free.