need not
Can decline to
Need not expresses the absence of necessity or obligation—something is permitted to remain undone.
It functions as the negative of must: You need not reply means replying isn't required, though you may if you wish.
The contracted form needn't is more common in British English.
Need not differs subtly from do not need to, which is standard in American speech.
- exemptNot subject to
- dispensableAble to be sacrificed
- discretionarySubject to personal judgment
- unnecessaryNot essential or required
- waivedVoluntarily gave up
superfluous · voluntary · free to choose · optional · excused · redundant · elective · flexible · open-ended · take it or leave it · no strings attached · omit · no obligation · obligatory · ignore · allowed · dismiss · spare
need notmust
Obligatory requirement
have to · need to · has to · have got to · needs must
need notmust
Obligatory requirement
mandatory · compulsory · required · imperative · essential
need, not, needed, needs, needing, needless, needful, needn't, needfulness