Must

/mʌst/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person or thing that is indispensable.

This report is a must for anyone interested in the market trends.

An essential requirement.

A good education is a must for success in today's job market.

modal verb

Used to indicate necessity or obligation.

You must wear a helmet while riding a bike.

Used to express certainty or strong belief.

She must be at the meeting by now; it started an hour ago.

Used to indicate a conclusion drawn from evidence.

He forgot his keys; he must have left them at home.

Old English 'mūston', from Proto-Germanic '*munstaz'

you must be joking

a phrase used to convey disbelief or amazement.

must see

something that is highly recommended to be viewed or experienced.

must-have

an essential item or requirement.

have to

indicates necessity or obligation.

should

suggests a recommendation or advice.

need

indicates a requirement or necessity.

used for emphasizing something important

You've got to check this out, it's a must!

something that is essential

That new phone is a must for anyone who loves tech.