Must — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /məs(t)/ (verb) /ˈməst/ (noun)

Meaning & Definition of Must

Must (verb)

  1. be commanded or requested to
  2. be urged to, ought by all means to
  3. be compelled by physical necessity to, be required by immediate or future need or purpose to

Must (noun)

  1. an imperative need or duty, requirement
  2. an indispensable item, essential
  3. the expressed juice of fruit and especially grapes before and during fermentation; also, the pulp and skins of the crushed grapes
  4. musk
  5. mold, mustiness

Must (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be under necessity or obligation to

    "we must be quiet during the performance"

    similar: have (to), need, ought (to), shall, should
    related: will

Must (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable

    "exercise is a must if you want to stay healthy"

    similar: condition, demand, essential, must-have, necessary, necessity, need, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non
    related: precondition, prerequisite, advantage, edge, plus, desideration, desideratum, wish
    opposite: nonessential, nonnecessity
    near: amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

Related Entry: Must-have (adjective)

Must-have is a different word from Must. The synonyms below are for must-have, not for must.

  1. impossible to do without

    "aprons are must-have accessories for the cooking class"

    similar: all-important, critical, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital, of the essence
    related: prerequisite, compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, basic, central, fundamental, key, organic, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent
    opposite: dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded
    near: undesired, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus

Related Entry: Must-have (noun)

Must-have is a different word from Must. The synonyms below are for must-have, not for must.

  1. something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable

    "hiking boots are a must-have for this trip"

    similar: condition, demand, essential, must, necessary, necessity, need, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non
    related: precondition, prerequisite, advantage, edge, plus, desideration, desideratum, wish
    opposite: nonessential, nonnecessity
    near: amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

Related Entry: Must-haves (noun)

Must-haves is a different word from Must. The synonyms below are for must-haves, not for must.

  1. something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable

    "hiking boots are a must-have for this trip"

    similar: conditions, demands, essentials, musts, necessaries, necessities, needfuls, needs, requirements, requisites, sine qua nons
    related: preconditions, prerequisites, advantages, edges, pluses, desiderata, desiderations, wishes
    opposite: nonessentials, nonnecessities
    near: amenities, comforts, extras, extravagances, frills, indulgences, luxuries, superfluities, surplusages, surpluses

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Must

The most common words with a similar meaning to Must:

have (to), need, ought (to), shall, should, condition, demand, essential, must-have, necessary, necessity, needful, requirement, requisite, sine qua non

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Must

Words with the opposite meaning of Must:

nonessential, nonnecessity

Related Words for Must

will, precondition, prerequisite, advantage, edge, plus, desideration, desideratum, wish

Near Antonyms of Must

amenity, comfort, extra, extravagance, frill, indulgence, luxury, superfluity, surplus, surplusage

Origin & Etymology of Must

Middle English moste, from Old English mōste, past indicative & subjunctive of mōtan to be allowed to, have to; akin to Old High German muozan to be allowed to, have to

First known use: before 12th centuryaux

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Must

Words & Phrases Containing Must

musth, must-have, must-see, if someone must, if you must know, I must love you and leave you

Frequently Asked Questions about Must

What does "Must" mean?

"Must" means be commanded or requested to. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: be commanded or requested to. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Must"?

Other words for "Must" include have (to), need, ought (to), shall, should, condition, demand and essential. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Must" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Must"?

There are 24 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Must". Common alternatives include have (to), need, ought (to), shall, should, condition, demand, essential, must-have and necessary.

What is the opposite of "Must"?

Antonyms of "Must" include nonessential and nonnecessity. Near antonyms include amenity, comfort, extra and extravagance.

How do you use "Must" in a sentence?

Examples of "Must" in a sentence: "we must be quiet during the performance"; "exercise is a must if you want to stay healthy".

Is "Must" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Must" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Must" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Must" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Must"?

"Must" is pronounced /məs(t)/ as a verb and /ˈməst/ as a noun.