Meaning of needn't | Babel Free

Definitions

Need not.

British, auxiliary, formal, literary, negative

Examples

“I needn’t have⟳ washed the car: shortly after it started raining.”

“I've worked many's the time to make⟳ up for the wages he's squandered, and I need⟳ a drop to keep⟳ up my strength. Take⟳ it good and leave⟳ it good, that's what I do; and if Jem did the same, he'd be welcome⟳ to it for all I should say⟳ to him, and he needn't sign⟳ no more than me. The [temperance] pledge is a very good thing for them as can't manage⟳ theirselves, and its kind in you, Mr. Watts, to come⟳ round and talk⟳ to the people, and get⟳ the drunkards to leave⟳ off the drink⟳; but, bless you, I needn't sign⟳.”

“‘Oh no,’ said the boy casually. ‘I won’t think⟳ much about them, mother. You needn’t worry⟳. I wouldn’t worry⟳, mother, if I were you.’ / ‘If you were me and I were you’, said his mother, ‘I wonder⟳ what we should do!’ / ‘But you know⟳ you needn’t worry⟳, mother, don’t you?’ the boy repeated.”

“There were perhaps half a dozen occasions on which he might have⟳ withdrawn and returned to the life that had been marked out for him. He needn't have⟳ been tortured in South Africa; he needn't have⟳ written his book; he needn't have⟳ taken the job with Sablich's; having taken the job, he needn't have⟳ become⟳ associated with Thrushcross Grange and Jimmy Ahmed.”

“Of course, since he's Judy's lover he had to say⟳ she's got nicer legs! It's true he needn't have⟳ been so assertive about it. That wasn't very tactful towards poor Li; Li is right when she says that Fred is an egoistic lout. A terrible lout.”

“We needn't swing⟳ the bludgeon when bargaining is still on the table. We needn't beat⟳ our plowshares into swords so long as we can browbeat or otherwise befuddle our enemy into believing our way is the best way—the only way. Thus, we needn't bloodily and bodily slay⟳ a foe when we can startle, stifle, and, when need⟳ be, snuff out any flame of resistance to our will.”

“She needn't argue⟳ with Renee and Marian (she is speaking to them again) about the Black Panthers. She needn't worry⟳ that Lydia seems to be taking too many and more frightening drugs. She needn't keep⟳ it from Adam that she is smoking pot with her friends; […]”

CEFR level