needful

adj.

US //ˈnidfəɫ// UK //nˈiːdfəl// need·ful

Archaic Slang

Origin

From Middle English needeful, nedeful, from Old English nēodful (“necessary; earnest; zealous”). Equivalent to need + -ful. Cognate with Dutch noodvol, German notvoll.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms1 entry

01
do the needful
To do what is necessary or required.

Last updated April 17, 2026