have to

idiom

1

—used to say that something is required or necessary

You have to follow the rules.

I told him what he had to do.

We have to correct these problems soon or the project will fail.

I have to remember to stop at the store.

"Do you have to go?" "Yes, I'm afraid I really have to."

I didn't want to do it but I had to.

—also have got to

You've got to stop.

Note: There is a difference in meaning between not have to, "it is not necessary to," and must not, "is not allowed to."

2

—used to say that something is required by a rule or law

All passengers have to exit at the next stop.

All passengers have got to exit at the next stop.

3

—used to say that something is desired or should be done

You have to read this book. It's fantastic!

You have to come visit us soon.

You really have to see the doctor about that cough.

You have got to come visit us soon.

4

—used to say that something is very likely

It has to be close to noon.

She has to be the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

He has to have a lot of money to live the way he does.

There has to be some mistake.

There has got to be some mistake.

5

—used in various spoken phrases to emphasize a statement

I have to say, I was surprised to hear from him.

She's a talented actress, you have to admit.

I have to admit, I expected better results.

It has to be said that the movie was not very good.

I have to warn you, this will not be easy.

I have got to say, I was surprised to hear from him.

6

—used in questions or statements that express annoyance or anger

Do you have to be so unreasonable?

Why does it always have to rain on the weekend?

It has got to rain on the day when we planned a picnic.

Examples of have to in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Just how dire would things have to get before these supporters sell their shares? —Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2024

Funeral home operators in the state don’t have to graduate high school, let alone study mortuary science or pass an exam. —Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024

The production is in the early stages of development, so fans will have to wait and see if Grier’s story becomes a big screen biopic or a series. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

Women in the Southeast may have to travel as far as Virginia for care. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024

From April 30, UK businesses will have to pay up to £145 ($184) per delivery of most animal products, plants or plant products imported from the European Union through the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said Wednesday. —Anna Cooban, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

One way or another, Marvel was always going to have to mutate. —Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Like other medical care, passengers have to pay for any costs associated with mental health services. —USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Lake will have to win over the Republicans and independents who were leery of her two years ago. —Matthew Continetti, National Review, 23 Mar. 2024