needs must
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Alternative form of must needs.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Then I walked about, till I found on the further side, a great river of sweet water, running with a strong current; whereupon I called to mind the boat-raft I had made aforetime and said to myself, "Needs must I make another; haply I may free me from this strait. If I escape, I have my desire and I
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “needs must” mean?
Alternative form of must needs.
Is “needs must” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.