needful

Needful is an English adjective meaning required, necessary, or essential. It is most commonly applied to tasks, actions, or things deemed necessary in a given situation, as in expressions such as the needful steps or the needful measures. The term can also appear in the fixed noun phrase the needful, which historically referred to what is required.

Etymology: The word is formed from the noun need plus the suffix -ful, dating from Middle English. The noun phrase the needful has appeared in English since at least the Early Modern period, but modern usage is rare outside certain registers. The most widely recognized contemporary colloquial usage is the Indian English phrase do the needful, which instructs someone to take the necessary action. This usage has become a stereotype in some international contexts.

Usage: In contemporary global English, needful is often considered old-fashioned or formal when used as an adjective. The phrase the needful can sound archaic; in American English one would typically say the necessary steps instead. Do the needful is understood in India and some Commonwealth contexts but is usually avoided in formal writing elsewhere. Writers may substitute do what is necessary or take the necessary action.