necessitate
- 01 C1 Advanced
to make something necessary, often because of a change in plans or a new problem.
to make something necessary as a logical or practical consequence. Transitive — requires a direct object, often a noun phrase or a gerund.
Simple“The sudden rainstorm will necessitate a change in our outdoor wedding plans.”
In context“The discovery of structural flaws in the bridge's foundation will necessitate a complete redesign of the support pillars.”
UsageCommonly followed by a noun phrase or a gerund (e.g., 'necessitate moving').
- 02 C1 Advanced
to force someone to do something because there is no other choice.
to compel or force a specific course of action due to external circumstances.
Simple“Increased costs have necessitated a reduction in the number of staff members.”
In context“The severe budget deficit necessitated drastic cuts to public services that had previously been considered essential.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice to describe actions forced by economic or legal conditions.
From earlier necessitat, from Medieval Latin necessitātus, perfect past participle of necessitō (“to make necessary”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix, of participial origin)), from Classical Latin necessitās (“necessity, need”) + -ō. Necessitās is derived from necesse (“unavoidable”) (from ne- (“not”) + cessus (“conceded, given up, yielded”). By surface analysis, necessitō + -ate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.