# necessary

/ˈnɛsəˌsɛɹi/ (US) · /nˈɛsəsəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/necessary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. needed

adjective · CEFR A2

needed in order to do something or to get a result.

For teachers: required or essential for a particular purpose or to achieve a specific result.

- Is it necessary to bring my passport to the bank today?
- The committee decided that a full audit was necessary before they could approve the next phase of the project.

Usage: Often used in the pattern 'it is necessary (for someone) to do something'.

### 2. unavoidable

adjective · CEFR B2

something that must happen and cannot be avoided.

For teachers: logically or physically inescapable; certain to occur.

- The company made some necessary changes to save money.
- While the transition was difficult, most staff agreed it was a necessary consequence of the merger.

### 3. toilet

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Humorous · Dialect

an old-fashioned or funny way to talk about the toilet.

For teachers: a euphemistic term for a lavatory or outhouse.

- The old cottage still had an outdoor necessary at the back of the garden.
- In the historical novel, the characters frequently referred to the outhouse as the necessary.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the'.

Teaching tip: This sense is very rare in modern English and is mostly found in period literature or used as a joke.

## Examples

- It is necessary to wear a seatbelt while driving.
- The manager provided all the necessary tools for the team to complete the renovation on time.
- While some critics argued the intervention was excessive, the government maintained it was a necessary measure to prevent a total collapse of the local economy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.