Phrase guide

in need

prep_phrase · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I donated the clothes my son outgrew to help children in need.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

In distress or otherwise difficult circumstances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a friend in need is a friend indeed
  • The team came to the rescue of a whale in need.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

Needing (the specified necessities).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: when followed by “of”

Examples

  • The house stands in need of urgent repairs.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مِسْكِين (miskīn) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Bengali: মুহতাজ (muhotaj) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Bengali: মিসকিন (miśokin) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Bengali: আল্হাদে (alhade) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Bulgarian: беден (beden) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Bulgarian: нуждаещ се (nuždaešt se) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Catalan: necessitat — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Catalan: freturós — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Czech: potřebný — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Czech: chudý — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Finnish: puutteenalainen — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Finnish: vähävarainen — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Finnish: köyhä — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • French: dans le besoin — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • French: nécessiteux — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Georgian: გაჭირვებული (gač̣irvebuli) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Georgian: საჭიროების მქონე (sač̣iroebis mkone) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • German: bedürftig — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Gothic: 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌱𐌰 (alaþarba) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Ancient Greek: χρεῖος (khreîos) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Ancient Greek: δεόμενος (deómenos) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Irish: díothach — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Italian: povero — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Italian: indigente — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Italian: bisognoso — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Latin: egens — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Latin: inops — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Māori: takaonge — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Norwegian Bokmål: trengende — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Persian: نیازمند (niâzmand) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Persian: فقیر (faqir) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Polish: potrzebujący — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Polish: biedujący — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Portuguese: necessitado — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Portuguese: carenciado — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Romanian: sărac — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Romanian: nevoiaș — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Russian: нужда́ющийся (nuždájuščijsja) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Sanskrit: ध्रिगु (dhrigu) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Scottish Gaelic: uireasbhach — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Spanish: necesitado — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Spanish: menesteroso — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Swedish: behövande — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Turkish: muhtaç — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Turkish: yoksul — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Turkish: fakir — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent
  • Ukrainian: нужде́нний (nuždénnyj) — lacking basic necessities such as food and shelter; poor; indigent